diff --git a/src/phase_z2_failure_router.py b/src/phase_z2_failure_router.py
index f7e1f34..0885007 100644
--- a/src/phase_z2_failure_router.py
+++ b/src/phase_z2_failure_router.py
@@ -7,20 +7,29 @@ A3 (zone_ratio_retry) 의 결과 (retry_trace) 를 받아 :
 본 module 은 ***분류 + 매핑까지만***. layout_adjust / frame_reselect / details_popup
 실행 X. retry_trace 에 `failure_classification` + `next_action_proposal` 두 필드 추가.
 
-**잠근 매핑** (사용자 잠금 — 2026-04-29) :
+**잠근 매핑** (사용자 잠금 — 2026-05-17, IMP-12 u3 cascade) :
 
-| failure_type              | next_proposed_action |
+| failure_type                            | next_proposed_action      |
 |---|---|
-| donor_slack_insufficient  | layout_adjust         |
-| no_donor_candidates       | layout_adjust         |
-| rerender_still_fails      | frame_reselect        |
-| not_attempted             | none                  |
+| donor_slack_insufficient                | cross_zone_redistribute    |
+| no_donor_candidates                     | cross_zone_redistribute    |
+| cross_zone_redistribute_insufficient    | glue_compression           |
+| glue_absorption_insufficient            | font_step_compression      |
+| font_step_insufficient                  | layout_adjust              |
+| rerender_still_fails                    | frame_reselect             |
+| not_attempted                           | none                       |
 
-**escalation 단계 hierarchy** (이번 기본 매핑이 따르는 원칙) :
+**escalation 단계 hierarchy** (Step 17 deterministic salvage cascade → layout/frame) :
 ```
-layout_adjust              (가장 가벼움 — zone 배치만 변경)
+cross_zone_redistribute    (fit_verifier.redistribute — role-height adjustment)
   ↓ 그래도 안 되면
-frame_reselect             (중간 — frame 자체 변경)
+glue_compression           (SPACING_GLUE envelope, frame-scoped)
+  ↓ 그래도 안 되면
+font_step_compression      (FONT_SIZE_STEPS, zone-scoped)
+  ↓ 그래도 안 되면
+layout_adjust              (zone topology 변경)
+  ↓ 그래도 안 되면
+frame_reselect             (V4 top-k 의 다른 frame)
   ↓ 그래도 안 되면
 details_popup_escalation   (가장 invasive — content popup, 마지막 resort)
 ```
@@ -53,26 +62,65 @@ FAILURE_TYPE_DESCRIPTIONS: dict[str, str] = {
         "redistribution 실행 + rerender 까지 했는데도 visual_check 실패. "
         "현재 frame/zone 조합이 content 와 맞지 않음"
     ),
+    "cross_zone_redistribute_insufficient": (
+        "cross_zone_redistribute salvage step failed — fit_verifier.redistribute "
+        "could not find a feasible role-height adjustment within the frame envelope"
+    ),
+    "glue_absorption_insufficient": (
+        "glue_compression salvage step failed — frame envelope cannot absorb "
+        "remaining overflow via SPACING_GLUE overrides (no global spacing shrink)"
+    ),
+    "font_step_insufficient": (
+        "font_step_compression salvage step failed — FONT_SIZE_STEPS exhausted "
+        "down to the floor without resolving overflow (or text_metrics missing)"
+    ),
+}
+
+
+# ─── §A4-1b salvage_steps[-1].action → failure_type table ──────────
+# u2 (IMP-12): _attempt_salvage_chain (u8) writes per-step records into
+# retry_trace["salvage_steps"] with {action, passed, failure_reason}. classifier
+# inspects salvage_steps[-1] so u3 can route 3 new types onto the cascade.
+
+SALVAGE_FAILURE_TYPE_BY_ACTION: dict[str, str] = {
+    "cross_zone_redistribute": "cross_zone_redistribute_insufficient",
+    "glue_compression":        "glue_absorption_insufficient",
+    "font_step_compression":   "font_step_insufficient",
 }
 
 
 # ─── §A4-2 next_action mapping (사용자 잠금) ──────────────────────
 
 NEXT_ACTION_BY_FAILURE: dict[str, str] = {
-    "donor_slack_insufficient": "layout_adjust",
-    "no_donor_candidates":      "layout_adjust",
-    "rerender_still_fails":     "frame_reselect",
-    "not_attempted":            "none",
+    "donor_slack_insufficient":             "cross_zone_redistribute",
+    "no_donor_candidates":                  "cross_zone_redistribute",
+    "cross_zone_redistribute_insufficient": "glue_compression",
+    "glue_absorption_insufficient":         "font_step_compression",
+    "font_step_insufficient":               "layout_adjust",
+    "rerender_still_fails":                 "frame_reselect",
+    "not_attempted":                        "none",
 }
 
 NEXT_ACTION_RATIONALE: dict[str, str] = {
     "donor_slack_insufficient": (
-        "현재 layout 안 redistribution 끝남 → 다른 layout topology 검토 "
-        "(layout_adjust). frame 자체는 아직 의심 대상 X"
+        "primary donor slack 한도 도달 → cross_zone_redistribute 로 sibling zone "
+        "전체 role-height 재분배 (fit_verifier.redistribute). layout 변경은 cascade 끝"
     ),
     "no_donor_candidates": (
-        "donor 자체 없거나 모두 막힘 → layout topology 부터 재구성하여 "
-        "sibling/space 다시 만들어 보는 게 우선 (layout_adjust). frame 변경은 그 다음"
+        "단일 donor 후보 없음 → cross_zone_redistribute 로 role-height 전체 "
+        "재할당 시도 (fit_verifier.redistribute). layout 변경은 cascade 끝"
+    ),
+    "cross_zone_redistribute_insufficient": (
+        "role-height 재분배도 frame envelope 못 맞춤 → glue_compression "
+        "(SPACING_GLUE frame-scoped) 으로 frame 내부 여백 축소"
+    ),
+    "glue_absorption_insufficient": (
+        "frame 여백 envelope 도 부족 → font_step_compression "
+        "(FONT_SIZE_STEPS zone-scoped) 으로 폰트 한 단계 축소"
+    ),
+    "font_step_insufficient": (
+        "deterministic salvage cascade 모두 소진 → layout_adjust 로 zone "
+        "topology 부터 재구성. frame_reselect 는 그 다음 단계"
     ),
     "rerender_still_fails": (
         "redistribution + rerender 까지 했는데도 visual fail → 현재 "
@@ -85,10 +133,19 @@ NEXT_ACTION_RATIONALE: dict[str, str] = {
 }
 
 # 본 매핑이 가리키는 next action 들의 *현재 코드* 구현 상태
+# IMP-12 u7 (2026-05-18): 3 cascade salvage actions registered as IMPLEMENTED.
+# plan/apply pairs live in phase_z2_retry (u4/u5/u6); pipeline orchestrator wiring
+# (_attempt_salvage_chain) lands in u8/u9. router-level mapping is decoupled from
+# orchestrator wiring on purpose so route_retry_failure → impl_status reflects
+# the deterministic surface availability, not whether a given pipeline run has
+# already invoked it.
 NEXT_ACTION_IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS: dict[str, str] = {
-    "layout_adjust":   "MISSING",
-    "frame_reselect":  "MISSING",
-    "none":            "n/a",
+    "cross_zone_redistribute": "IMPLEMENTED",  # u4 plan_cross_zone_redistribute + apply_cross_zone_redistribute_css
+    "glue_compression":        "IMPLEMENTED",  # u5 plan_glue_compression + apply_glue_compression_css
+    "font_step_compression":   "IMPLEMENTED",  # u6 plan_font_step_compression + apply_font_step_compression_css
+    "layout_adjust":           "MISSING",
+    "frame_reselect":          "MISSING",
+    "none":                    "n/a",
 }
 
 
@@ -106,6 +163,29 @@ def classify_retry_failure(retry_trace: dict) -> Optional[dict]:
     if retry_trace.get("retry_passed"):
         return None
 
+    # case 0.5 : salvage chain 자체 성공 — failure 없음 (u8/u9 wiring)
+    if retry_trace.get("salvage_passed"):
+        return None
+
+    # case 0.7 : salvage chain attempted and ended in a salvage-level failure.
+    # zone_ratio_retry 가 먼저 실패한 뒤 _attempt_salvage_chain 이 가동된 path —
+    # 마지막 salvage step 의 action 으로 failure_type 을 분류한다. u3 가 routing.
+    salvage_steps = retry_trace.get("salvage_steps") or []
+    if salvage_steps:
+        last = salvage_steps[-1] or {}
+        if not last.get("passed"):
+            action = (last.get("action") or "").lower()
+            ftype = SALVAGE_FAILURE_TYPE_BY_ACTION.get(action)
+            if ftype is not None:
+                reason = last.get("failure_reason") or ""
+                return {
+                    "failure_type": ftype,
+                    "classification_rule": (
+                        f"salvage_steps[-1].action == {action!r} "
+                        f"AND passed=False. raw failure_reason: {reason!r}"
+                    ),
+                }
+
     # case 1 : retry 시도 자체 안 됨 (router_active=False 또는 다른 action)
     if not retry_trace.get("retry_attempted"):
         return {
@@ -204,7 +284,7 @@ def route_retry_failure(failure_type: str) -> dict:
         "next_action_implementation_status": NEXT_ACTION_IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS.get(
             next_action, "unknown"
         ),
-        "mapping_source": "A4 NEXT_ACTION_BY_FAILURE (사용자 잠금 2026-04-29)",
+        "mapping_source": "A4 NEXT_ACTION_BY_FAILURE (사용자 잠금 2026-05-17, IMP-12 u3 cascade)",
     }
 
 
diff --git a/src/phase_z2_pipeline.py b/src/phase_z2_pipeline.py
index 56983ee..b663c89 100644
--- a/src/phase_z2_pipeline.py
+++ b/src/phase_z2_pipeline.py
@@ -58,10 +58,19 @@ from phase_z2_classifier import classify_visual_runtime_check
 from phase_z2_router import route_fit_classification
 from phase_z2_retry import (
     DEFAULT_SAFETY_MARGIN_PX,
+    apply_cross_zone_redistribute_css,
+    apply_font_step_compression_css,
+    apply_glue_compression_css,
     apply_retry_to_layout_css,
+    plan_cross_zone_redistribute,
+    plan_font_step_compression,
+    plan_glue_compression,
     plan_zone_ratio_retry,
 )
-from phase_z2_failure_router import enrich_retry_trace_with_failure_classification
+from phase_z2_failure_router import (
+    enrich_retry_trace_with_failure_classification,
+    route_retry_failure,
+)
 
 # trace-only runtime 연결 v0 — B1 → B4 chain.
 # final.html / mapper / render path 미영향. debug_zones[i].placement_trace 만 기록.
@@ -1925,6 +1934,91 @@ def _attempt_zone_ratio_retry(
     return base_trace
 
 
+# IMP-12 u8 — Step 17 salvage cascade orchestrator (deterministic, no normal-path AI).
+# Plan/apply pairs: phase_z2_retry (u4/u5/u6). Routing: failure_router.route_retry_failure (u3).
+# Pipeline wiring (cascade_inputs assembly + retry_trace merge) lands in u9.
+_SALVAGE_FAIL_BY_ACTION = {
+    "cross_zone_redistribute": "cross_zone_redistribute_insufficient",
+    "glue_compression": "glue_absorption_insufficient",
+    "font_step_compression": "font_step_insufficient",
+}
+
+
+def _attempt_salvage_chain(
+    *, run_dir: Path, out_path: Path, slide_title: str, slide_footer: Optional[str],
+    zones_data: list[dict], layout_preset: str, layout_css: dict,
+    cascade_inputs: dict, initial_failure_type: str, gap_px: int,
+) -> dict:
+    """IMP-12 u8 — deterministic Step 17 salvage cascade (cross_zone → glue → font_step).
+    Per stage: plan → apply CSS → rerender → run_overflow_check. PASS promotes final.html;
+    cascade-exit (layout_adjust/frame_reselect/none) or all-fail preserves (b) revert.
+    Honors IMP-09 dynamic_cols / fr_default gate.
+    """
+    trace = {"salvage_attempted": False, "salvage_passed": False, "salvage_steps": []}
+    if layout_css.get("dynamic_cols", False) or not layout_css.get("dynamic_rows", False):
+        trace["salvage_skipped_reason"] = "IMP-09 gate — dynamic_cols/no dynamic_rows; cascade no-op"
+        return trace
+    trace["salvage_attempted"] = True
+    failure_type = initial_failure_type
+    ci = cascade_inputs
+    for _ in range(len(_SALVAGE_FAIL_BY_ACTION)):
+        routing = route_retry_failure(failure_type) or {}
+        next_action = routing.get("next_proposed_action")
+        if next_action not in _SALVAGE_FAIL_BY_ACTION:
+            trace["salvage_terminal_action"] = next_action
+            trace["salvage_terminal_rationale"] = routing.get("rationale")
+            return trace
+        if next_action == "cross_zone_redistribute":
+            if ci.get("fit_analysis") is None:
+                plan = {"action": "cross_zone_redistribute", "feasible": False,
+                        "failure_reason": "cascade_inputs.fit_analysis missing — cross_zone_redistribute requires fit_analysis."}
+            else:
+                plan = plan_cross_zone_redistribute(
+                    fit_analysis=ci["fit_analysis"], containers=ci.get("containers") or {},
+                    min_margin_px=ci.get("min_margin_px"))
+            apply_fn = apply_cross_zone_redistribute_css
+        elif next_action == "glue_compression":
+            plan = plan_glue_compression(
+                excess_px=float(ci.get("excess_px") or 0.0),
+                block_count=int(ci.get("block_count") or 0),
+                zone_position=str(ci.get("zone_position") or ""))
+            apply_fn = apply_glue_compression_css
+        else:
+            plan = plan_font_step_compression(
+                current_font_px=float(ci.get("current_font_px") or 0.0),
+                excess_after_glue_px=float(ci.get("excess_after_glue_px") or ci.get("excess_px") or 0.0),
+                available_lines=int(ci.get("available_lines") or 0),
+                chars_per_line=int(ci.get("chars_per_line") or 0),
+                zone_position=str(ci.get("zone_position") or ""))
+            apply_fn = apply_font_step_compression_css
+        css_override = apply_fn(plan) if (plan and plan.get("feasible")) else ""
+        candidate_path = run_dir / f"salvage_{next_action}_candidate.html"
+        candidate_html, candidate_overflow, passed = None, None, False
+        if css_override:
+            base = render_slide(slide_title, slide_footer, zones_data, layout_preset, layout_css, gap_px=gap_px)
+            style = f"<style>\n{css_override}\n</style>"
+            candidate_html = base.replace("</head>", f"{style}\n</head>", 1) if "</head>" in base else style + base
+            candidate_path.write_text(candidate_html, encoding="utf-8")
+            candidate_overflow = run_overflow_check(candidate_path)
+            passed = bool(candidate_overflow.get("passed", False))
+        step = {"action": next_action, "plan": plan, "passed": passed,
+                "css_override": css_override or None,
+                "candidate_path": str(candidate_path.relative_to(PROJECT_ROOT)) if css_override else None}
+        if passed:
+            out_path.write_text(candidate_html, encoding="utf-8")
+            step["post_salvage_overflow"] = candidate_overflow
+            trace["salvage_steps"].append(step)
+            trace["salvage_passed"] = True
+            return trace
+        step["failure_reason"] = (
+            (plan.get("failure_reason") if isinstance(plan, dict) else None)
+            or (candidate_overflow.get("fail_reasons") if candidate_overflow else None)
+            or "infeasible or no CSS emitted")
+        trace["salvage_steps"].append(step)
+        failure_type = _SALVAGE_FAIL_BY_ACTION[next_action]
+    return trace
+
+
 def render_slide(slide_title: str, slide_footer: Optional[str],
                  zones_data: list[dict], layout_preset: str,
                  layout_css: dict, gap_px: int = GRID_GAP) -> str:
@@ -4326,19 +4420,85 @@ def run_phase_z2_mvp1(
     #      retry 실패 시 failure_type 분류 + next_proposed_action 기록 (escalation 후보).
     enrich_retry_trace_with_failure_classification(retry_trace)
 
+    # 11.7 IMP-12 u9 — Step 17 deterministic salvage cascade.
+    # Triggered on donor_slack_insufficient / no_donor_candidates: cross_zone_redistribute
+    # → glue_compression → font_step_compression (terminal → layout_adjust/frame_reselect).
+    _ft = (retry_trace.get("failure_classification") or {}).get("failure_type")
+    if _ft in {"donor_slack_insufficient", "no_donor_candidates"}:
+        _plan = retry_trace.get("plan") or {}
+        _tpos = _plan.get("target_zone_position")
+        _tdz = next((dz for dz in debug_zones if dz.get("position") == _tpos), {}) or {}
+        _excess = float(_plan.get("target_excess_y") or 0.0)
+        # Synthesize FitAnalysis from debug_zones + per-zone overflow so cross_zone_redistribute
+        # can compute feasibility against real Phase Z geometry (Phase Q's calculate_fit is
+        # not invoked in Phase Z — see comp_debug v4_fallback_summary policy at 2839-2843).
+        # Each position becomes a "role"; all share conceptual zone "slide_body" so
+        # fit_verifier.redistribute trades shortfalls between them. shortfall_px is signed:
+        # scrollHeight - clientHeight > 0 = deficit, < 0 = surplus (matches redistribute()).
+        from src.fit_verifier import FitAnalysis, RoleFit
+        _zof = {z.get("position"): z for z in (overflow.get("zones") or [])}
+        _fa_roles, _fa_containers = {}, {}
+        for _dz in debug_zones:
+            _pos = _dz.get("position")
+            if not _pos:
+                continue
+            _alloc = float(_dz.get("height_px") or 0.0)
+            _zm = _zof.get(_pos) or {}
+            _ch = float(_zm.get("clientHeight") or _alloc)
+            _sh = float(_zm.get("scrollHeight") or _ch)
+            _fa_roles[_pos] = RoleFit(role=_pos, allocated_px=_alloc, shortfall_px=_sh - _ch)
+            _fa_containers[_pos] = {"zone": "slide_body", "height_px": int(_alloc)}
+        _salvage_trace = _attempt_salvage_chain(
+            run_dir=run_dir, out_path=out_path,
+            slide_title=slide_title, slide_footer=slide_footer,
+            zones_data=zones_data, layout_preset=layout_preset, layout_css=layout_css,
+            cascade_inputs={
+                "fit_analysis": FitAnalysis(roles=_fa_roles),
+                "containers": _fa_containers,
+                "min_margin_px": None,
+                "excess_px": _excess, "excess_after_glue_px": _excess,
+                "block_count": len((_tdz.get("placement_trace") or {}).get("internal_regions") or []) or 1,
+                "zone_position": _tpos or "",
+                "current_font_px": float(_tdz.get("font_size_px") or 0.0),
+                "available_lines": int(_tdz.get("available_lines") or 0),
+                "chars_per_line": int(_tdz.get("chars_per_line") or 0),
+            },
+            initial_failure_type=_ft, gap_px=GRID_GAP,
+        )
+        retry_trace.update(_salvage_trace)
+        if _salvage_trace.get("salvage_passed"):
+            overflow = (_salvage_trace["salvage_steps"][-1].get("post_salvage_overflow")) or overflow
+            fit_classification = classify_visual_runtime_check(overflow, debug_zones)
+            router_decision = route_fit_classification(fit_classification)
+            router_decision["v4_fallback_summary"] = comp_debug.get("v4_fallback_summary")
+            router_decision["v4_fallback_selections"] = comp_debug.get("v4_fallback_selections", [])
+            router_decision["frame_reselect_fallback_status"] = (
+                "pre_render_rank_2_3_fallback_implemented; "
+                "post_render visual-fail rerender remains routed through existing action trace"
+            )
+            # Refresh failure_classification / next_action_proposal so Step 18 / Step 19
+            # do not surface the pre-salvage donor_slack_insufficient / no_donor_candidates
+            # state. classify_retry_failure short-circuits on salvage_passed=True → both
+            # fields become None (no failure to classify, no escalation pending).
+            enrich_retry_trace_with_failure_classification(retry_trace)
+
     # ─── Step 17: Implemented Action (retry) ───
     _write_step_artifact(
         run_dir, 17, "retry_trace",
         data=retry_trace,
         step_status=(
-            "failed" if retry_trace.get("retry_attempted") and not retry_trace.get("retry_passed")
-            else "done" if retry_trace.get("retry_passed")
+            "done" if retry_trace.get("retry_passed") or retry_trace.get("salvage_passed")
+            else "failed" if retry_trace.get("retry_attempted") and not retry_trace.get("retry_passed")
             else "skipped"
         ),
         pipeline_path_connected=True,
         inputs=["step16_router_decision.json"],
         outputs=["step17_retry_trace.json"],
-        note="A3 — zone_ratio_retry action only. 다른 actions (layout_adjust / frame_internal_fit 등) 미구현 — Step 17 ⚠ partial.",
+        note=(
+            "A3 — zone_ratio_retry + IMP-12 u8/u9 salvage cascade "
+            "(cross_zone_redistribute → glue_compression → font_step_compression). "
+            "Terminal actions (layout_adjust / frame_reselect / details_popup_escalation) still MISSING."
+        ),
     )
 
     # ─── Step 18: Failure Classification (A4-1) ───
diff --git a/src/phase_z2_retry.py b/src/phase_z2_retry.py
index 4155d0e..d467de9 100644
--- a/src/phase_z2_retry.py
+++ b/src/phase_z2_retry.py
@@ -162,35 +162,55 @@ def plan_zone_ratio_retry(
             ),
         }
 
-    # A3 minimal : single primary donor (multi-donor 는 future)
-    primary_donor = donor_candidates[0]
-    if primary_donor["slack"] < target_added_px:
+    # IMP-12 u1 : multi-donor greedy aggregation (slack-desc 순서대로 합산)
+    aggregate_slack_available = sum(d["slack"] for d in donor_candidates)
+    if aggregate_slack_available < target_added_px:
         return {
             **base_plan,
             "feasible": False,
-            "donor_zone_position": primary_donor["position"],
-            "donor_max_slack": primary_donor["slack"],
+            "donor_zone_position": donor_candidates[0]["position"],
+            "donor_max_slack": donor_candidates[0]["slack"],
             "donor_reduced_px": 0,
+            "donors_used": [],
+            "aggregate_slack_used": 0,
+            "aggregate_slack_available": aggregate_slack_available,
             "zones_after": dict(zones_before),
             "failure_reason": (
-                f"primary donor '{primary_donor['position']}' slack {primary_donor['slack']}px "
-                f"< target_added_px {target_added_px}px (excess_y {target_excess_y} + "
-                f"safety_margin {safety_margin_px}). multi-donor aggregation is future axis."
+                f"primary donor '{donor_candidates[0]['position']}' slack "
+                f"{donor_candidates[0]['slack']}px (aggregate "
+                f"{aggregate_slack_available}px across {len(donor_candidates)} "
+                f"candidate(s)) < target_added_px {target_added_px}px "
+                f"(excess_y {target_excess_y} + safety_margin {safety_margin_px})."
             ),
         }
 
-    # feasible
+    # feasible — greedy aggregation: 각 donor 에서 필요한 만큼만 차감
     zones_after = dict(zones_before)
     zones_after[target_zone_position] = zones_before[target_zone_position] + target_added_px
-    zones_after[primary_donor["position"]] = (
-        zones_before[primary_donor["position"]] - target_added_px
-    )
+    donors_used: list[dict] = []
+    remaining = target_added_px
+    for donor in donor_candidates:
+        if remaining <= 0:
+            break
+        take = min(donor["slack"], remaining)
+        zones_after[donor["position"]] = zones_before[donor["position"]] - take
+        donors_used.append({
+            "position": donor["position"],
+            "reduced_px": take,
+            "slack_before": donor["slack"],
+            "slack_after": donor["slack"] - take,
+        })
+        remaining -= take
 
+    primary_donor = donors_used[0]
     return {
         **base_plan,
         "feasible": True,
         "donor_zone_position": primary_donor["position"],
-        "donor_reduced_px": target_added_px,
+        "donor_reduced_px": primary_donor["reduced_px"],
+        "donors_used": donors_used,
+        "aggregate_slack_used": target_added_px,
+        "aggregate_slack_available": aggregate_slack_available,
         "zones_after": zones_after,
     }
 
@@ -213,3 +233,177 @@ def apply_retry_to_layout_css(layout_css: dict, plan: dict, zones_data: list[dic
     new_layout_css["raw_zone_layout"] = (layout_css.get("raw_zone_layout") or {}).copy()
     new_layout_css["raw_zone_layout"]["retry_applied"] = True
     return new_layout_css
+
+
+# ──────────────────────────────────────
+# IMP-12 u4 : cross_zone_redistribute (Step 17 salvage cascade — stage 1)
+# Wraps src.fit_verifier.redistribute in the Step-17 plan signature so the
+# failure-router cascade (donor_slack_insufficient → cross_zone_redistribute)
+# can drive it deterministically. Plan-only — no rerender / no final.html
+# mutation. Side-effect-free (operates on deepcopy of fit_analysis).
+# ──────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def plan_cross_zone_redistribute(
+    *,
+    fit_analysis,
+    containers: dict,
+    min_margin_px: float | None = None,
+) -> dict:
+    """Cross-zone (intra-zone role-to-role) redistribute plan.
+
+    Plan-only — no rerender / no final.html mutation. Side-effect-free
+    (operates on deepcopy of fit_analysis).
+    """
+    from copy import deepcopy
+    from src.fit_verifier import redistribute as _fv_redistribute
+
+    role_heights_before = {
+        role: float(rf.allocated_px) for role, rf in (fit_analysis.roles or {}).items()
+    }
+    base_plan = {
+        "action": "cross_zone_redistribute",
+        "role_heights_before": role_heights_before,
+    }
+    if not role_heights_before:
+        return {**base_plan, "feasible": False, "role_heights_after": {},
+                "can_redistribute": False,
+                "failure_reason": "no roles in fit_analysis — cannot redistribute."}
+
+    result = _fv_redistribute(deepcopy(fit_analysis), containers, min_margin_px=min_margin_px)
+    redistribution = dict(result.redistribution or {})
+    can_redistribute = bool(result.can_redistribute)
+
+    if not can_redistribute or not redistribution:
+        return {
+            **base_plan,
+            "feasible": False,
+            "role_heights_after": redistribution or dict(role_heights_before),
+            "can_redistribute": can_redistribute,
+            "failure_reason": (
+                "fit_verifier.redistribute can_redistribute=False — single-role zone(s) "
+                "or surplus insufficient to cover deficit within envelope."
+            ),
+        }
+    return {**base_plan, "feasible": True, "role_heights_after": redistribution,
+            "can_redistribute": True}
+
+
+def apply_cross_zone_redistribute_css(plan: dict) -> str:
+    """Emit scoped role-height CSS overrides — [data-role="<role>"] only.
+
+    Honors feedback_phase_z_spacing_direction: no :root / body / .slide / .zone selectors.
+    """
+    if not plan.get("feasible"):
+        return ""
+    role_heights_after = plan.get("role_heights_after") or {}
+    role_heights_before = plan.get("role_heights_before") or {}
+    rules: list[str] = []
+    for role, new_height in role_heights_after.items():
+        before = role_heights_before.get(role)
+        if before is None or abs(float(before) - float(new_height)) < 0.5:
+            continue
+        new_h_int = int(round(float(new_height)))
+        rules.append(
+            f'[data-role="{role}"] {{ height: {new_h_int}px; min-height: {new_h_int}px; }}'
+        )
+    return "\n".join(rules)
+
+
+# IMP-12 u5 : glue_compression — Step 17 salvage cascade (stage 2).
+# Wraps space_allocator.compute_glue_css_overrides in the Step-17 plan signature.
+# Frame-scoped: overrides emitted only under [data-zone-position="<pos>"]
+# (feedback_phase_z_spacing_direction — no :root/body/.slide/.zone mutation).
+
+
+def plan_glue_compression(
+    *, excess_px: float, block_count: int, zone_position: str,
+) -> dict:
+    """Glue compression plan (frame-scoped). feasible only when envelope absorbs excess."""
+    from src.space_allocator import (
+        calculate_glue_absorption, compute_glue_css_overrides,
+    )
+    base = {"action": "glue_compression", "zone_position": zone_position,
+            "excess_px": float(excess_px), "block_count": int(block_count)}
+    if excess_px <= 0:
+        return {**base, "feasible": False, "overrides": {}, "absorption_max_px": 0.0,
+                "failure_reason": "excess_px <= 0 — no compression needed."}
+    absorption_max = float(calculate_glue_absorption(block_count))
+    overrides = compute_glue_css_overrides(excess_px, block_count) or {}
+    if excess_px > absorption_max:
+        return {**base, "feasible": False, "overrides": overrides,
+                "absorption_max_px": absorption_max,
+                "failure_reason": (
+                    f"glue envelope insufficient — excess_px {excess_px:.1f} > "
+                    f"max absorption {absorption_max:.1f}px "
+                    f"(block_count={block_count}, SPACING_GLUE shrink budget)."
+                )}
+    return {**base, "feasible": True, "overrides": overrides,
+            "absorption_max_px": absorption_max}
+
+
+def apply_glue_compression_css(plan: dict) -> str:
+    """Emit zone-scoped glue CSS — wrapped in [data-zone-position="<pos>"] only."""
+    if not plan.get("feasible"):
+        return ""
+    zone_position = plan.get("zone_position")
+    overrides = plan.get("overrides") or {}
+    if not zone_position or not overrides:
+        return ""
+    var_lines = "\n".join(f"  {k}: {v};" for k, v in overrides.items())
+    return f'[data-zone-position="{zone_position}"] {{\n{var_lines}\n}}'
+
+
+# IMP-12 u6 : font_step_compression — Step 17 salvage cascade (stage 3).
+# Wraps space_allocator.find_fitting_font_size in the Step-17 plan signature.
+# Zone-scoped: only [data-zone-position="<pos>"] (no :root/body/.slide/.zone).
+
+
+def plan_font_step_compression(
+    *, current_font_px: float, excess_after_glue_px: float,
+    available_lines: int, chars_per_line: int, zone_position: str,
+) -> dict:
+    """Font-step compression plan (zone-scoped). feasible only when FONT_SIZE_STEPS
+    contains a size whose line-height savings cover excess_after_glue_px. Missing
+    text_metrics yields feasible=False (cascade routes onward to layout_adjust)."""
+    from src.space_allocator import FONT_SIZE_STEPS, find_fitting_font_size
+    floor = float(FONT_SIZE_STEPS[-1])
+    base = {"action": "font_step_compression", "zone_position": zone_position,
+            "current_font_px": float(current_font_px),
+            "excess_after_glue_px": float(excess_after_glue_px),
+            "available_lines": int(available_lines or 0),
+            "chars_per_line": int(chars_per_line or 0),
+            "font_floor_px": floor}
+    if excess_after_glue_px <= 0:
+        return {**base, "feasible": False, "target_font_px": None,
+                "failure_reason": "excess_after_glue_px <= 0 — no font compression needed."}
+    if not available_lines or available_lines <= 0 or not chars_per_line or chars_per_line <= 0:
+        return {**base, "feasible": False, "target_font_px": None,
+                "failure_reason": "text_metrics missing — available_lines/chars_per_line required."}
+    if current_font_px <= floor:
+        return {**base, "feasible": False, "target_font_px": None,
+                "failure_reason": (
+                    f"current_font_px {current_font_px:.1f} already at FONT_SIZE_STEPS floor {floor:.1f}px.")}
+    target = find_fitting_font_size(
+        current_font_px=float(current_font_px),
+        excess_after_glue_px=float(excess_after_glue_px),
+        available_lines=int(available_lines), chars_per_line=int(chars_per_line))
+    if target is None:
+        return {**base, "feasible": False, "target_font_px": None,
+                "failure_reason": (
+                    f"font_step floor — {floor:.1f}px cannot absorb "
+                    f"excess_after_glue_px={excess_after_glue_px:.1f}px "
+                    f"(available_lines={available_lines}, FONT_SIZE_STEPS exhausted).")}
+    return {**base, "feasible": True, "target_font_px": float(target)}
+
+
+def apply_font_step_compression_css(plan: dict) -> str:
+    """Emit zone-scoped font-size CSS — [data-zone-position="<pos>"] only."""
+    if not plan.get("feasible"):
+        return ""
+    zone_position = plan.get("zone_position")
+    target_font_px = plan.get("target_font_px")
+    if not zone_position or target_font_px is None:
+        return ""
+    return (f'[data-zone-position="{zone_position}"] {{\n'
+            f"  font-size: {float(target_font_px):.1f}px;\n}}")
diff --git a/src/phase_z2_router.py b/src/phase_z2_router.py
index 52beca7..810459a 100644
--- a/src/phase_z2_router.py
+++ b/src/phase_z2_router.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ ACTION_RATIONALE: dict[str, str] = {
         "위 매핑 모두 미적용 — 마지막 fallback (현재 코드는 sys.exit 으로 abort)",
 }
 
-# 각 action 의 *현재 코드* 구현 상태 (2026-04-29 기준)
+# 각 action 의 *현재 코드* 구현 상태 (2026-04-29 기준; IMP-12 u7 cascade 2026-05-18)
 # A2 단계에서 이 매핑이 *어디까지 자동 처리되고 어디서 막히는지* trace 확보용
 ACTION_IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS: dict[str, str] = {
     "zone_ratio_retry":          "IMPLEMENTED",  # A3 (2026-04-29) phase_z2_retry.plan_zone_ratio_retry + pipeline orchestration
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@ ACTION_IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS: dict[str, str] = {
     "frame_reselect":            "PARTIAL",      # IMP-05 pre-render rank-2/3 fallback implemented; post-render rerender trace-only
     "adapter_needed":            "PARTIAL",      # composition v0.1.1 의 mapper FitError catch
     "abort":                     "IMPLEMENTED",  # sys.exit(1) — pipeline 의 현재 default
+    # IMP-12 u7 (2026-05-18): cascade-only salvage actions (no ACTION_BY_CATEGORY row;
+    # surfaced via NEXT_ACTION_BY_FAILURE in phase_z2_failure_router). plan/apply pairs
+    # implemented in phase_z2_retry; pipeline orchestrator wiring lands in u8/u9.
+    "cross_zone_redistribute":   "IMPLEMENTED",  # u4 phase_z2_retry.plan_cross_zone_redistribute + apply_cross_zone_redistribute_css
+    "glue_compression":          "IMPLEMENTED",  # u5 phase_z2_retry.plan_glue_compression + apply_glue_compression_css
+    "font_step_compression":     "IMPLEMENTED",  # u6 phase_z2_retry.plan_font_step_compression + apply_font_step_compression_css
 }
 
 
diff --git a/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_cross_zone_redistribute.py b/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_cross_zone_redistribute.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a9144f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_cross_zone_redistribute.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+"""IMP-12 u11 — plan_cross_zone_redistribute tests.
+
+Stage 2 contract (unit u11):
+  - multi-role zone feasible (deficit role + surplus role in the same zone)
+  - single-role zone infeasible reason (no peer to donate surplus)
+
+u4 wraps fit_verifier.redistribute() in the Step-17 plan signature; feasibility
+depends on whether deficit roles can be covered by surplus roles within the
+same container.zone group (see src/fit_verifier.py:496-590). The plan exposes
+role_heights_before / role_heights_after and surfaces the
+'can_redistribute=False — single-role zone(s)' substring when redistribution
+is impossible. The apply helper must scope output to [data-role=...] only
+(feedback_phase_z_spacing_direction — no :root / body / .slide / .zone).
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from src.fit_verifier import FitAnalysis, RoleFit
+from src.phase_z2_retry import (
+    apply_cross_zone_redistribute_css,
+    plan_cross_zone_redistribute,
+)
+
+
+def _fit(roles: dict[str, tuple[float, float]]) -> FitAnalysis:
+    """roles dict = {role: (allocated_px, shortfall_px)}.
+
+    Sign convention matches fit_verifier.redistribute: shortfall_px > 0 = deficit,
+    shortfall_px < 0 = surplus (usable = abs(shortfall) - min_margin_px).
+    """
+    return FitAnalysis(
+        roles={
+            name: RoleFit(role=name, allocated_px=alloc, shortfall_px=short)
+            for name, (alloc, short) in roles.items()
+        }
+    )
+
+
+def test_multi_role_zone_feasible():
+    """Two roles in the same zone — deficit covered by surplus → feasible."""
+    fit = _fit({"top": (200.0, 30.0), "bottom_l": (300.0, -50.0)})
+    containers = {
+        "top": {"zone": "slide_body", "height_px": 200},
+        "bottom_l": {"zone": "slide_body", "height_px": 300},
+    }
+    plan = plan_cross_zone_redistribute(
+        fit_analysis=fit, containers=containers, min_margin_px=10.0,
+    )
+    assert plan["action"] == "cross_zone_redistribute"
+    assert plan["feasible"] is True
+    assert plan["can_redistribute"] is True
+    assert plan["role_heights_before"] == {"top": 200.0, "bottom_l": 300.0}
+    after = plan["role_heights_after"]
+    # deficit (30) shifts top up, surplus (50-margin=40) shifts bottom_l down by 30.
+    assert after["top"] > 200.0
+    assert after["bottom_l"] < 300.0
+    assert abs((after["top"] - 200.0) - (300.0 - after["bottom_l"])) < 1.0
+    css = apply_cross_zone_redistribute_css(plan)
+    assert '[data-role="top"]' in css
+    assert '[data-role="bottom_l"]' in css
+    # Scope lock — no global rules emitted.
+    for forbidden in (":root", "body", ".slide", ".zone"):
+        assert forbidden not in css
+
+
+def test_single_role_zone_infeasible_reason():
+    """Lone role in a zone has no peer to donate surplus → infeasible."""
+    fit = _fit({"top": (200.0, 30.0)})
+    containers = {"top": {"zone": "slide_body", "height_px": 200}}
+    plan = plan_cross_zone_redistribute(
+        fit_analysis=fit, containers=containers, min_margin_px=10.0,
+    )
+    assert plan["feasible"] is False
+    assert plan["can_redistribute"] is False
+    reason = plan["failure_reason"]
+    assert "single-role zone" in reason
+    assert "can_redistribute=False" in reason
+    # apply emits nothing when infeasible.
+    assert apply_cross_zone_redistribute_css(plan) == ""
+
+
+def test_empty_fit_analysis_infeasible():
+    """No roles at all → defensive infeasible (cannot redistribute nothing)."""
+    plan = plan_cross_zone_redistribute(
+        fit_analysis=FitAnalysis(roles={}), containers={}, min_margin_px=10.0,
+    )
+    assert plan["feasible"] is False
+    assert plan["role_heights_before"] == {}
+    assert "no roles" in plan["failure_reason"]
+    assert apply_cross_zone_redistribute_css(plan) == ""
diff --git a/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_failure_router_cascade.py b/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_failure_router_cascade.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d45d7fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_failure_router_cascade.py
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+"""IMP-12 u14 — failure_router cascade tests.
+
+Stage 2 contract (unit u14):
+  - donor_slack_insufficient → cross_zone_redistribute (impl=IMPLEMENTED)
+  - 3 new failure types (cross_zone_redistribute_insufficient,
+    glue_absorption_insufficient, font_step_insufficient) all route to
+    expected next actions per the locked NEXT_ACTION_BY_FAILURE table
+  - rerender_still_fails preserved → frame_reselect
+
+u2 (classifier) inspects retry_trace["salvage_steps"][-1] for the 3 new
+salvage failure types via SALVAGE_FAILURE_TYPE_BY_ACTION; u3 wires those
+failure types onto the deterministic cascade in NEXT_ACTION_BY_FAILURE.
+u7 records the cascade actions as IMPLEMENTED in NEXT_ACTION_IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from src.phase_z2_failure_router import (
+    NEXT_ACTION_BY_FAILURE,
+    NEXT_ACTION_IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS,
+    classify_retry_failure,
+    enrich_retry_trace_with_failure_classification,
+    route_retry_failure,
+)
+
+
+def test_donor_slack_insufficient_routes_to_cross_zone_redistribute_implemented():
+    """Stage 1 root cause — primary donor slack insufficient classifies as
+    donor_slack_insufficient and routes onto the deterministic salvage cascade
+    starting with cross_zone_redistribute (IMPLEMENTED per u7)."""
+    trace = {
+        "retry_attempted": True,
+        "retry_passed": False,
+        "plan": {
+            "feasible": False,
+            "failure_reason": (
+                "primary donor 'bottom' slack 15px (aggregate 25px from 2 donor(s)) "
+                "< target_added_px 70px"
+            ),
+        },
+    }
+    fc = classify_retry_failure(trace)
+    assert fc is not None
+    assert fc["failure_type"] == "donor_slack_insufficient"
+
+    nr = route_retry_failure("donor_slack_insufficient")
+    assert nr["next_proposed_action"] == "cross_zone_redistribute"
+    assert nr["next_action_implementation_status"] == "IMPLEMENTED"
+
+    # enrichment composes both fields onto the trace
+    enrich_retry_trace_with_failure_classification(trace)
+    assert trace["failure_classification"]["failure_type"] == "donor_slack_insufficient"
+    assert trace["next_action_proposal"]["next_proposed_action"] == "cross_zone_redistribute"
+
+
+def test_no_donor_candidates_routes_to_cross_zone_redistribute_implemented():
+    """no_donor_candidates is the second cascade entry — also onto
+    cross_zone_redistribute per the locked mapping."""
+    trace = {
+        "retry_attempted": True,
+        "retry_passed": False,
+        "plan": {"feasible": False, "failure_reason": "no donor candidates"},
+    }
+    fc = classify_retry_failure(trace)
+    assert fc["failure_type"] == "no_donor_candidates"
+    nr = route_retry_failure("no_donor_candidates")
+    assert nr["next_proposed_action"] == "cross_zone_redistribute"
+    assert nr["next_action_implementation_status"] == "IMPLEMENTED"
+
+
+def test_three_new_salvage_failure_types_route_to_expected_cascade_actions():
+    """u2 classifier inspects salvage_steps[-1]. u3 routes the 3 new failure
+    types through the deterministic cascade: cross_zone → glue → font_step →
+    layout_adjust. Verifies the locked NEXT_ACTION_BY_FAILURE table directly
+    and via the classifier path."""
+    # Direct mapping (u3 lock)
+    assert NEXT_ACTION_BY_FAILURE["cross_zone_redistribute_insufficient"] == "glue_compression"
+    assert NEXT_ACTION_BY_FAILURE["glue_absorption_insufficient"] == "font_step_compression"
+    assert NEXT_ACTION_BY_FAILURE["font_step_insufficient"] == "layout_adjust"
+
+    # Implementation status (u7): 2 cascade entries IMPLEMENTED, layout_adjust MISSING
+    assert NEXT_ACTION_IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS["glue_compression"] == "IMPLEMENTED"
+    assert NEXT_ACTION_IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS["font_step_compression"] == "IMPLEMENTED"
+    assert NEXT_ACTION_IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS["layout_adjust"] == "MISSING"
+
+    # Classifier path via salvage_steps[-1].action → failure_type → next action
+    cases = [
+        ("cross_zone_redistribute", "cross_zone_redistribute_insufficient", "glue_compression"),
+        ("glue_compression",        "glue_absorption_insufficient",         "font_step_compression"),
+        ("font_step_compression",   "font_step_insufficient",               "layout_adjust"),
+    ]
+    for action, expected_ftype, expected_next in cases:
+        trace = {
+            "retry_attempted": True,
+            "retry_passed": False,
+            "salvage_passed": False,
+            "salvage_steps": [
+                {"action": action, "passed": False, "failure_reason": "salvage failed"}
+            ],
+        }
+        fc = classify_retry_failure(trace)
+        assert fc is not None, f"classifier returned None for action={action}"
+        assert fc["failure_type"] == expected_ftype
+        nr = route_retry_failure(fc["failure_type"])
+        assert nr["next_proposed_action"] == expected_next
+
+
+def test_rerender_still_fails_preserved_routes_to_frame_reselect():
+    """Pre-cascade behavior preserved: when plan was feasible and rerender ran
+    but visual still failed, classifier emits rerender_still_fails → frame_reselect."""
+    trace = {
+        "retry_attempted": True,
+        "retry_passed": False,
+        "plan": {"feasible": True},
+        "rerender_attempted": True,
+    }
+    fc = classify_retry_failure(trace)
+    assert fc["failure_type"] == "rerender_still_fails"
+    nr = route_retry_failure("rerender_still_fails")
+    assert nr["next_proposed_action"] == "frame_reselect"
diff --git a/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_font_step_compression.py b/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_font_step_compression.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e2c6b5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_font_step_compression.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+"""IMP-12 u13 — plan_font_step_compression tests.
+
+Stage 2 contract (unit u13):
+  - feasible case (15.2 → 13 closes excess)
+  - infeasible (8px floor — FONT_SIZE_STEPS exhausted)
+  - text_metrics missing → defensive infeasible reason
+
+u6 wraps space_allocator.find_fitting_font_size in the Step-17 plan signature.
+Height savings per candidate font_size (Korean 1.6 line-height):
+    height_saved = (current_font_px * 1.6 - font_size * 1.6) * available_lines
+
+Scope lock per feedback_phase_z_spacing_direction:
+  - apply_font_step_compression_css emits ONLY [data-zone-position="<pos>"] rule.
+  - No :root / body / .slide / .zone selectors permitted.
+"""
+
+from src.phase_z2_retry import (
+    apply_font_step_compression_css,
+    plan_font_step_compression,
+)
+
+
+def test_feasible_15_2_to_13_closes_excess() -> None:
+    """current=15.2, excess=20, lines=10 → 14.0 saves 19.2 (insufficient);
+    13.0 saves 35.2 (>=20) → target_font_px=13.0. Emitted CSS scope-locked."""
+    plan = plan_font_step_compression(
+        current_font_px=15.2, excess_after_glue_px=20.0,
+        available_lines=10, chars_per_line=40, zone_position="bottom_l",
+    )
+    assert plan["action"] == "font_step_compression"
+    assert plan["zone_position"] == "bottom_l"
+    assert plan["current_font_px"] == 15.2
+    assert plan["excess_after_glue_px"] == 20.0
+    assert plan["available_lines"] == 10
+    assert plan["chars_per_line"] == 40
+    assert plan["font_floor_px"] == 8.0
+    assert plan["feasible"] is True
+    assert plan["target_font_px"] == 13.0
+    assert "failure_reason" not in plan
+
+    css = apply_font_step_compression_css(plan)
+    assert '[data-zone-position="bottom_l"]' in css
+    assert "font-size: 13.0px" in css
+    for forbidden in (":root", "body ", ".slide", ".zone"):
+        assert forbidden not in css, f"scope-lock violation: {forbidden!r} in css"
+
+
+def test_infeasible_font_floor_exhausted() -> None:
+    """current=15.2, excess=200, lines=10 — even 8.0px floor saves only 115.2,
+    so FONT_SIZE_STEPS is exhausted → feasible=False, classifier-matching reason."""
+    plan = plan_font_step_compression(
+        current_font_px=15.2, excess_after_glue_px=200.0,
+        available_lines=10, chars_per_line=40, zone_position="top",
+    )
+    assert plan["feasible"] is False
+    assert plan["target_font_px"] is None
+    assert plan["font_floor_px"] == 8.0
+    reason = plan["failure_reason"]
+    assert "font_step floor" in reason
+    assert "8.0px" in reason
+    assert "200.0px" in reason
+    assert "FONT_SIZE_STEPS exhausted" in reason
+    assert apply_font_step_compression_css(plan) == ""
+
+
+def test_text_metrics_missing_defensive_infeasible() -> None:
+    """available_lines=0 → guard fires before find_fitting_font_size;
+    failure_reason carries the text_metrics missing substring (classifier-friendly)."""
+    plan = plan_font_step_compression(
+        current_font_px=15.2, excess_after_glue_px=40.0,
+        available_lines=0, chars_per_line=40, zone_position="bottom_r",
+    )
+    assert plan["feasible"] is False
+    assert plan["target_font_px"] is None
+    assert "text_metrics missing" in plan["failure_reason"]
+    assert "available_lines/chars_per_line required" in plan["failure_reason"]
+    assert apply_font_step_compression_css(plan) == ""
diff --git a/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_glue_compression.py b/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_glue_compression.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85e3560
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_glue_compression.py
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+"""IMP-12 u12 — plan_glue_compression tests.
+
+Stage 2 contract (unit u12):
+  - feasible case asserts emitted CSS contains [data-zone-position=...]
+    selector and NO global :root / body / .slide rule (scope lock)
+  - insufficient case feasible=False with envelope reason
+
+u5 wraps space_allocator.calculate_glue_absorption + compute_glue_css_overrides
+in the Step-17 plan signature. Glue envelope per block_count (SPACING_GLUE):
+  absorption_max = block_gap.shrink * (block_count-1)        # 12 * (n-1)
+                 + inner_gap.shrink * block_count             # 8 * n
+                 + title_gap.shrink * block_count             # 4 * n
+                 + container_padding.shrink * 2               # 8 * 2
+
+  block_count=3 → 12*2 + 8*3 + 4*3 + 8*2 = 24+24+12+16 = 76 px
+  block_count=1 → 12*0 + 8*1 + 4*1 + 8*2 = 0+8+4+16   = 28 px
+
+CSS must be wrapped under [data-zone-position="<pos>"] only
+(feedback_phase_z_spacing_direction — no :root/body/.slide/.zone mutation).
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from src.phase_z2_retry import (
+    apply_glue_compression_css,
+    plan_glue_compression,
+)
+
+
+def test_feasible_case_emits_zone_scoped_css():
+    """excess (40px) <= absorption_max (76px @ block_count=3) → feasible.
+
+    Emitted CSS must wrap overrides in [data-zone-position=...] selector and
+    contain none of the global selectors banned by feedback_phase_z_spacing_direction.
+    """
+    plan = plan_glue_compression(
+        excess_px=40.0, block_count=3, zone_position="bottom_l",
+    )
+    assert plan["action"] == "glue_compression"
+    assert plan["zone_position"] == "bottom_l"
+    assert plan["feasible"] is True
+    assert plan["excess_px"] == 40.0
+    assert plan["block_count"] == 3
+    assert plan["absorption_max_px"] == 76.0
+    overrides = plan["overrides"]
+    assert overrides, "feasible plan must return non-empty overrides"
+    for key in ("--spacing-block", "--spacing-inner", "--container-padding"):
+        assert key in overrides, f"missing override key {key}"
+
+    css = apply_glue_compression_css(plan)
+    assert '[data-zone-position="bottom_l"]' in css
+    assert "--spacing-block:" in css
+    assert "--spacing-inner:" in css
+    assert "--container-padding:" in css
+    # Scope lock — no global rules permitted.
+    for forbidden in (":root", "body ", ".slide", ".zone"):
+        assert forbidden not in css, f"forbidden selector {forbidden!r} leaked into glue CSS"
+
+
+def test_insufficient_envelope_feasible_false_with_reason():
+    """excess (80px) > absorption_max (28px @ block_count=1) → infeasible.
+
+    failure_reason must surface the envelope shortage so the cascade router
+    (NEXT_ACTION_BY_FAILURE) can route onward to font_step_compression.
+    """
+    plan = plan_glue_compression(
+        excess_px=80.0, block_count=1, zone_position="top",
+    )
+    assert plan["feasible"] is False
+    assert plan["absorption_max_px"] == 28.0
+    reason = plan["failure_reason"]
+    assert "glue envelope insufficient" in reason
+    assert "excess_px 80" in reason
+    assert "max absorption 28" in reason
+    # apply emits nothing when infeasible — no accidental CSS mutation on revert path.
+    assert apply_glue_compression_css(plan) == ""
+
+
+def test_excess_non_positive_no_compression_needed():
+    """excess_px <= 0 → defensive infeasible (no compression required)."""
+    plan = plan_glue_compression(
+        excess_px=0.0, block_count=3, zone_position="bottom_r",
+    )
+    assert plan["feasible"] is False
+    assert plan["overrides"] == {}
+    assert plan["absorption_max_px"] == 0.0
+    assert "no compression needed" in plan["failure_reason"]
+    assert apply_glue_compression_css(plan) == ""
diff --git a/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_retry_multi_donor.py b/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_retry_multi_donor.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b649f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_retry_multi_donor.py
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+"""IMP-12 u10 — plan_zone_ratio_retry multi-donor aggregation tests.
+
+Stage 2 contract (unit u10):
+  - single-donor sufficient (regression — backward compat preserved)
+  - single insufficient + 2nd sufficient (multi-donor PASS path)
+  - aggregate insufficient (multi-donor FAIL path)
+
+u1 extended plan_zone_ratio_retry from a single primary donor to greedy
+slack-desc aggregation across all eligible sibling zones. The plan dict
+now carries donors_used / aggregate_slack_used / aggregate_slack_available
+while preserving donor_zone_position + donor_reduced_px for the failure
+classifier substrings (router still keys off primary donor name).
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from src.phase_z2_retry import plan_zone_ratio_retry
+
+
+_ROUTER_ACTIVE = {"router_active": True}
+
+
+def _classification(target_pos: str, excess_y: float) -> dict:
+    return {
+        "classifications": [
+            {
+                "proposed_action": "zone_ratio_retry",
+                "zone_position": target_pos,
+                "inputs": {"excess_y": excess_y},
+            }
+        ]
+    }
+
+
+def _zone(position: str, height_px: int, min_height_px: int,
+          fit_status: str | None = "ok") -> dict:
+    return {
+        "position": position,
+        "height_px": height_px,
+        "min_height_px": min_height_px,
+        "composition_rationale": {
+            "capacity_fit": {"fit_status": fit_status},
+        },
+    }
+
+
+def _overflow_clean(donor_positions: list[str]) -> dict:
+    return {
+        "zones": [
+            {"position": p, "overflowed": False, "clipped_inner": False}
+            for p in donor_positions
+        ]
+    }
+
+
+def test_single_donor_sufficient_regression():
+    """One donor with abundant slack. Plan must remain feasible and the
+    legacy donor_zone_position / donor_reduced_px fields must reflect the
+    primary donor (router classifier substring stability)."""
+    debug_zones = [
+        _zone("top", height_px=200, min_height_px=180),
+        _zone("bottom", height_px=400, min_height_px=200),  # slack=200
+    ]
+    plan = plan_zone_ratio_retry(
+        debug_zones=debug_zones,
+        overflow=_overflow_clean(["bottom"]),
+        fit_classification=_classification("top", excess_y=20.0),
+        router_decision=_ROUTER_ACTIVE,
+    )
+    assert plan is not None
+    assert plan["feasible"] is True
+    # target_added_px = ceil(20) + DEFAULT_SAFETY_MARGIN_PX(4) = 24
+    assert plan["target_added_px"] == 24
+    assert plan["donor_zone_position"] == "bottom"
+    assert plan["donor_reduced_px"] == 24
+    assert plan["donors_used"] == [
+        {"position": "bottom", "reduced_px": 24,
+         "slack_before": 200, "slack_after": 176}
+    ]
+    assert plan["aggregate_slack_used"] == 24
+    assert plan["aggregate_slack_available"] == 200
+    assert plan["zones_after"]["top"] == 224
+    assert plan["zones_after"]["bottom"] == 376
+
+
+def test_multi_donor_pass_primary_insufficient_secondary_covers():
+    """Primary donor alone has insufficient slack but primary + secondary
+    aggregate covers target_added_px. Multi-donor greedy aggregation must
+    split the deficit across both donors in slack-desc order."""
+    debug_zones = [
+        _zone("top", height_px=300, min_height_px=200),
+        _zone("middle", height_px=250, min_height_px=200),   # slack=50
+        _zone("bottom", height_px=240, min_height_px=200),   # slack=40
+    ]
+    plan = plan_zone_ratio_retry(
+        debug_zones=debug_zones,
+        overflow=_overflow_clean(["middle", "bottom"]),
+        fit_classification=_classification("top", excess_y=66.0),
+        router_decision=_ROUTER_ACTIVE,
+    )
+    # target_added_px = ceil(66)+4 = 70.  Primary (middle, slack=50) alone
+    # cannot cover, but middle(50)+bottom(40)=90 >= 70.
+    assert plan["feasible"] is True
+    assert plan["target_added_px"] == 70
+    assert plan["aggregate_slack_available"] == 90
+    assert plan["aggregate_slack_used"] == 70
+    assert plan["donor_zone_position"] == "middle"   # primary
+    assert plan["donor_reduced_px"] == 50            # primary takes its full slack
+    assert [d["position"] for d in plan["donors_used"]] == ["middle", "bottom"]
+    assert plan["donors_used"][0]["reduced_px"] == 50
+    assert plan["donors_used"][1]["reduced_px"] == 20  # remainder
+    assert plan["zones_after"]["top"] == 370
+    assert plan["zones_after"]["middle"] == 200
+    assert plan["zones_after"]["bottom"] == 220
+
+
+def test_multi_donor_fail_aggregate_insufficient():
+    """All donors combined still cannot cover target_added_px. Plan must
+    be feasible=False with primary-donor substring preserved so the
+    failure_router classifier still routes through donor_slack_insufficient."""
+    debug_zones = [
+        _zone("top", height_px=300, min_height_px=200),
+        _zone("middle", height_px=210, min_height_px=200),   # slack=10
+        _zone("bottom", height_px=215, min_height_px=200),   # slack=15
+    ]
+    plan = plan_zone_ratio_retry(
+        debug_zones=debug_zones,
+        overflow=_overflow_clean(["middle", "bottom"]),
+        fit_classification=_classification("top", excess_y=66.0),
+        router_decision=_ROUTER_ACTIVE,
+    )
+    # target_added_px=70, aggregate=25 → fail
+    assert plan["feasible"] is False
+    assert plan["aggregate_slack_available"] == 25
+    assert plan["aggregate_slack_used"] == 0
+    assert plan["donors_used"] == []
+    # Primary = highest-slack donor = bottom (15)
+    assert plan["donor_zone_position"] == "bottom"
+    assert plan["donor_max_slack"] == 15
+    # Classifier substring stability: "donor", "slack", and "<" still present
+    reason = plan["failure_reason"]
+    assert "donor" in reason
+    assert "slack" in reason
+    assert "<" in reason
+    # zones unchanged on fail (revert-friendly)
+    assert plan["zones_after"]["top"] == 300
+    assert plan["zones_after"]["middle"] == 210
+    assert plan["zones_after"]["bottom"] == 215
diff --git a/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_step17_salvage_chain.py b/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_step17_salvage_chain.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7600b0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/phase_z2/test_phase_z2_step17_salvage_chain.py
@@ -0,0 +1,248 @@
+"""IMP-12 u15 — End-to-end test of `_attempt_salvage_chain` (Step 17 deterministic salvage cascade).
+
+Three Stage 2 cases against `src.phase_z2_pipeline._attempt_salvage_chain`:
+  (a) zone_ratio fail + cross_zone pass  → final.html promoted, salvage_passed=True
+  (b) cross_zone fail + glue pass        → 2nd cascade step promoted, salvage_passed=True
+  (c) all 3 fail                          → (b)-revert preserved, original final.html intact, salvage_passed=False
+
+`render_slide` and `run_overflow_check` are monkey-patched so the test stays deterministic
+(no Selenium / Jinja2 template files). The patches only stand in for the rendering / overflow
+oracles — the planners (`plan_cross_zone_redistribute`, `plan_glue_compression`,
+`plan_font_step_compression`) and the cascade router (`route_retry_failure` /
+`SALVAGE_FAIL_BY_ACTION`) all run unmocked.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import shutil
+import tempfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+import src.phase_z2_pipeline as _pz_pipeline
+from src.fit_verifier import FitAnalysis, RoleFit
+from src.phase_z2_pipeline import _attempt_salvage_chain
+
+
+_PROJECT_ROOT = _pz_pipeline.PROJECT_ROOT
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def project_tmp(tmp_path_factory):
+    """Temp dir under PROJECT_ROOT so _attempt_salvage_chain can call
+    candidate_path.relative_to(PROJECT_ROOT) without ValueError on a
+    cross-drive system tmp path (pytest's default tmp_path is under
+    %LOCALAPPDATA% on Windows, which lives on a different drive from
+    the project root in this repo)."""
+    base = _PROJECT_ROOT / ".orchestrator" / "tmp"
+    base.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    d = Path(tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix="u15_salvage_", dir=str(base)))
+    try:
+        yield d
+    finally:
+        shutil.rmtree(d, ignore_errors=True)
+
+
+_LAYOUT_CSS_GATE_PASS = {
+    "areas": '"top" "bottom"',
+    "cols": "1fr",
+    "rows": "1fr 1fr",
+    "heights_px": [300, 290],
+    "widths_px": [1180],
+    "ratios": [0.508, 0.491],
+    "width_ratios": [1.0],
+    "dynamic_rows": True,
+    "dynamic_cols": False,
+}
+
+
+def _patch_render(monkeypatch):
+    """Stub render_slide → deterministic HTML envelope so the cascade does not
+    need real Jinja2 templates. Returns a counter so tests can assert how many
+    times it was invoked (one per CSS-feasible cascade step)."""
+    counter = {"n": 0}
+
+    def _stub(slide_title, slide_footer, zones_data, layout_preset, layout_css, gap_px=14):
+        counter["n"] += 1
+        return (
+            f"<html><head><meta charset='utf-8'></head>"
+            f"<body><div data-slide-title='{slide_title}'></div></body></html>"
+        )
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(_pz_pipeline, "render_slide", _stub)
+    return counter
+
+
+def _kwargs(*, run_dir: Path, out_path: Path, cascade_inputs: dict,
+            initial_failure_type: str = "donor_slack_insufficient") -> dict:
+    return {
+        "run_dir": run_dir,
+        "out_path": out_path,
+        "slide_title": "u15-test",
+        "slide_footer": None,
+        "zones_data": [],
+        "layout_preset": "horizontal-2",
+        "layout_css": _LAYOUT_CSS_GATE_PASS,
+        "cascade_inputs": cascade_inputs,
+        "initial_failure_type": initial_failure_type,
+        "gap_px": 14,
+    }
+
+
+def test_case_a_cross_zone_passes_final_html_promoted(project_tmp, monkeypatch):
+    """(a) cross_zone_redistribute is feasible + run_overflow_check returns
+    passed=True → out_path overwritten with the cross_zone candidate HTML and
+    salvage_passed=True after the very first cascade iteration."""
+    out_path = project_tmp / "final.html"
+    out_path.write_text("ORIGINAL_BEFORE_SALVAGE", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    # Multi-role same-zone FitAnalysis: top +30 deficit, bottom_l -50 surplus.
+    fit_analysis = FitAnalysis(roles={
+        "top": RoleFit(role="top", allocated_px=200, shortfall_px=30.0),
+        "bottom_l": RoleFit(role="bottom_l", allocated_px=300, shortfall_px=-50.0),
+    })
+    containers = {
+        "top": {"zone": "slide_body", "height_px": 200},
+        "bottom_l": {"zone": "slide_body", "height_px": 300},
+    }
+    cascade_inputs = {
+        "fit_analysis": fit_analysis,
+        "containers": containers,
+        "min_margin_px": 10,
+        "excess_px": 30.0, "excess_after_glue_px": 30.0,
+        "block_count": 3, "zone_position": "top",
+        "current_font_px": 15.2, "available_lines": 10, "chars_per_line": 40,
+    }
+
+    _patch_render(monkeypatch)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        _pz_pipeline, "run_overflow_check",
+        lambda p: {"passed": True, "fail_reasons": []},
+    )
+
+    trace = _attempt_salvage_chain(
+        **_kwargs(run_dir=project_tmp, out_path=out_path, cascade_inputs=cascade_inputs),
+    )
+
+    assert trace["salvage_attempted"] is True
+    assert trace["salvage_passed"] is True
+    assert len(trace["salvage_steps"]) == 1
+    step0 = trace["salvage_steps"][0]
+    assert step0["action"] == "cross_zone_redistribute"
+    assert step0["passed"] is True
+    assert step0["plan"]["feasible"] is True
+    assert step0["css_override"] and '[data-role=' in step0["css_override"]
+    # out_path was overwritten with the salvage candidate.
+    promoted = out_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    assert "ORIGINAL_BEFORE_SALVAGE" not in promoted
+    assert "u15-test" in promoted
+
+
+def test_case_b_cross_zone_fails_glue_passes_second_promoted(project_tmp, monkeypatch):
+    """(b) cross_zone is infeasible (single-role zone) → glue_compression CSS
+    emitted + run_overflow_check passes → out_path overwritten with the glue
+    candidate (2nd cascade step). salvage_passed=True; salvage_steps[0]
+    records the infeasible cross_zone attempt."""
+    out_path = project_tmp / "final.html"
+    out_path.write_text("ORIGINAL_BEFORE_SALVAGE", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    # Single-role zone → fit_verifier.redistribute returns can_redistribute=False
+    # (peer required, none present).
+    fit_analysis = FitAnalysis(roles={
+        "top": RoleFit(role="top", allocated_px=200, shortfall_px=30.0),
+    })
+    containers = {"top": {"zone": "slide_body", "height_px": 200}}
+    # Glue envelope at block_count=3 = 12*(3-1)+8*3+4*3+8*2 = 76 px → 40 px is feasible.
+    cascade_inputs = {
+        "fit_analysis": fit_analysis,
+        "containers": containers,
+        "min_margin_px": 10,
+        "excess_px": 40.0, "excess_after_glue_px": 40.0,
+        "block_count": 3, "zone_position": "bottom_l",
+        "current_font_px": 15.2, "available_lines": 10, "chars_per_line": 40,
+    }
+
+    render_counter = _patch_render(monkeypatch)
+    # cross_zone is infeasible → no CSS → no rerender / no overflow call. Glue is
+    # feasible → exactly one rerender + overflow call → return passed=True.
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        _pz_pipeline, "run_overflow_check",
+        lambda p: {"passed": True, "fail_reasons": []},
+    )
+
+    trace = _attempt_salvage_chain(
+        **_kwargs(run_dir=project_tmp, out_path=out_path, cascade_inputs=cascade_inputs),
+    )
+
+    assert trace["salvage_attempted"] is True
+    assert trace["salvage_passed"] is True
+    assert len(trace["salvage_steps"]) == 2
+
+    s0 = trace["salvage_steps"][0]
+    assert s0["action"] == "cross_zone_redistribute"
+    assert s0["passed"] is False
+    assert s0["plan"]["feasible"] is False
+    assert s0["css_override"] is None
+    assert "single-role zone" in (s0["plan"].get("failure_reason") or "")
+
+    s1 = trace["salvage_steps"][1]
+    assert s1["action"] == "glue_compression"
+    assert s1["passed"] is True
+    assert s1["plan"]["feasible"] is True
+    assert s1["css_override"] and '[data-zone-position="bottom_l"]' in s1["css_override"]
+    # render_slide was invoked exactly once (only the glue branch emitted CSS).
+    assert render_counter["n"] == 1
+    # out_path was overwritten with the glue candidate.
+    promoted = out_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    assert "ORIGINAL_BEFORE_SALVAGE" not in promoted
+
+
+def test_case_c_all_three_fail_revert_preserved(project_tmp, monkeypatch):
+    """(c) All three cascade actions are infeasible (no CSS emitted by any
+    planner) → run_overflow_check is never invoked, salvage_passed=False,
+    salvage_steps has three failed entries, and out_path is unchanged
+    (original final.html intact — (b)-revert preserved)."""
+    out_path = project_tmp / "final.html"
+    out_path.write_text("ORIGINAL_BEFORE_SALVAGE", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    cascade_inputs = {
+        # cross_zone: fit_analysis missing → plan returns feasible=False with reason
+        # `cascade_inputs.fit_analysis missing` (see _attempt_salvage_chain branch).
+        "fit_analysis": None,
+        "containers": {},
+        "min_margin_px": 10,
+        # glue: excess_px (200) > envelope max at block_count=1 (28) → infeasible.
+        "excess_px": 200.0, "excess_after_glue_px": 200.0,
+        "block_count": 1, "zone_position": "top",
+        # font_step: current_font_px=15.2 cannot absorb 200px even at 8px floor
+        # → find_fitting_font_size returns None → feasible=False.
+        "current_font_px": 15.2, "available_lines": 10, "chars_per_line": 40,
+    }
+
+    render_counter = _patch_render(monkeypatch)
+    # Guard: if run_overflow_check is ever called, the test fails loudly.
+    def _must_not_call(_p):  # pragma: no cover — intentional sentinel
+        raise AssertionError("run_overflow_check must not run when no CSS is emitted")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(_pz_pipeline, "run_overflow_check", _must_not_call)
+
+    trace = _attempt_salvage_chain(
+        **_kwargs(run_dir=project_tmp, out_path=out_path, cascade_inputs=cascade_inputs),
+    )
+
+    assert trace["salvage_attempted"] is True
+    assert trace["salvage_passed"] is False
+    assert len(trace["salvage_steps"]) == 3
+    actions = [s["action"] for s in trace["salvage_steps"]]
+    assert actions == [
+        "cross_zone_redistribute",
+        "glue_compression",
+        "font_step_compression",
+    ]
+    for step in trace["salvage_steps"]:
+        assert step["passed"] is False
+        assert step["css_override"] is None
+        assert step["failure_reason"]
+    # No CSS emitted anywhere → no render_slide calls either.
+    assert render_counter["n"] == 0
+    # (b) revert: out_path is untouched.
+    assert out_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8") == "ORIGINAL_BEFORE_SALVAGE"