diff --git a/crates/busbar-contract/include/busbar_plugin.h b/crates/busbar-contract/include/busbar_plugin.h
index 0f431b1b54..b4dff4957b 100644
--- a/crates/busbar-contract/include/busbar_plugin.h
+++ b/crates/busbar-contract/include/busbar_plugin.h
@@ -3322,6 +3322,8 @@ struct bb_transport_EmitIn {
     bb_transport_FramerSink sink;
     uint64_t deadline_ns;
     const bb_transport_DatagramLane *lane;
+    uint32_t status;
+    uint32_t _status_reserved;
 };
 
 /* `encode`'s `in`. The rendered bytes go into `sink.wire`. */
@@ -5708,7 +5710,7 @@ BB_ASSERT(offsetof(bb_transport_IngestIn, end) == 112, "bb_transport_IngestIn.en
 BB_ASSERT(offsetof(bb_transport_IngestIn, _reserved) == 116, "bb_transport_IngestIn._reserved: offset");
 BB_ASSERT(offsetof(bb_transport_IngestIn, sink) == 120, "bb_transport_IngestIn.sink: offset");
 BB_ASSERT(offsetof(bb_transport_IngestIn, lane) == 200, "bb_transport_IngestIn.lane: offset");
-BB_ASSERT(sizeof(bb_transport_EmitIn) == 224, "bb_transport_EmitIn: size");
+BB_ASSERT(sizeof(bb_transport_EmitIn) == 232, "bb_transport_EmitIn: size");
 BB_ASSERT(BB_ALIGNOF(bb_transport_EmitIn) == 8, "bb_transport_EmitIn: alignment");
 BB_ASSERT(offsetof(bb_transport_EmitIn, head) == 0, "bb_transport_EmitIn.head: offset");
 BB_ASSERT(offsetof(bb_transport_EmitIn, framing) == 88, "bb_transport_EmitIn.framing: offset");
@@ -5720,6 +5722,8 @@ BB_ASSERT(offsetof(bb_transport_EmitIn, flags) == 124, "bb_transport_EmitIn.flag
 BB_ASSERT(offsetof(bb_transport_EmitIn, sink) == 128, "bb_transport_EmitIn.sink: offset");
 BB_ASSERT(offsetof(bb_transport_EmitIn, deadline_ns) == 208, "bb_transport_EmitIn.deadline_ns: offset");
 BB_ASSERT(offsetof(bb_transport_EmitIn, lane) == 216, "bb_transport_EmitIn.lane: offset");
+BB_ASSERT(offsetof(bb_transport_EmitIn, status) == 224, "bb_transport_EmitIn.status: offset");
+BB_ASSERT(offsetof(bb_transport_EmitIn, _status_reserved) == 228, "bb_transport_EmitIn._status_reserved: offset");
 BB_ASSERT(sizeof(bb_transport_EncodeIn) == 232, "bb_transport_EncodeIn: size");
 BB_ASSERT(BB_ALIGNOF(bb_transport_EncodeIn) == 8, "bb_transport_EncodeIn: alignment");
 BB_ASSERT(offsetof(bb_transport_EncodeIn, head) == 0, "bb_transport_EncodeIn.head: offset");
diff --git a/crates/busbar-contract/src/abi/tests/transport_check_tests.rs b/crates/busbar-contract/src/abi/tests/transport_check_tests.rs
index 56d9cddeb4..6dc34ca349 100644
--- a/crates/busbar-contract/src/abi/tests/transport_check_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/busbar-contract/src/abi/tests/transport_check_tests.rs
@@ -917,3 +917,29 @@ fn a_streams_final_status_is_judged_against_its_claims_numbering() {
         f(Rule::NullWithCount, "finish.final_bytes")
     );
 }
+
+/// THE ANSWER'S STATUS ON AN EMIT (INBOUND-LISTEN, l.4913): stated on the emit that carries an
+/// accepted stream's answer head, and on no other emit.
+#[test]
+fn an_emit_states_a_status_only_on_an_accepted_streams_answer_head() {
+    let mut i: EmitIn = z();
+    assert_eq!(check_emit_status(&i, false), Ok(()));
+    i.status = 200;
+    assert_eq!(check_emit_status(&i, true), Ok(()));
+    i.status = 101;
+    assert_eq!(check_emit_status(&i, true), Ok(()));
+    // RED: a status on an emit that carries no answer head.
+    assert_eq!(
+        check_emit_status(&i, false),
+        f(Rule::Contradiction, "emit.status")
+    );
+    // RED: an accepted stream's answer head with no status.
+    i.status = 0;
+    assert_eq!(check_emit_status(&i, true), f(Rule::Missing, "emit.status"));
+    // RED: the padding is not a channel.
+    i._status_reserved = 1;
+    assert_eq!(
+        check_emit_status(&i, false),
+        f(Rule::UnknownCode, "emit._status_reserved")
+    );
+}
diff --git a/crates/busbar-contract/src/abi/transport/check.rs b/crates/busbar-contract/src/abi/transport/check.rs
index c438ee6681..668dd854bd 100644
--- a/crates/busbar-contract/src/abi/transport/check.rs
+++ b/crates/busbar-contract/src/abi/transport/check.rs
@@ -13,13 +13,14 @@
 pub use crate::abi::mechanism::check::{Fault, Rule};
 
 use super::{
-    AcceptOut, ArrivalOut, Claim, ConnFacts, FinishIn, FramePiece, FrameSpan, FramerOut, HeadSlots,
-    IoOut, ListenOut, LocateOut, SettingDecl, StatusRow, TransportTail, CANCEL_COMPLETED,
-    CANCEL_NOTHING_MOVED, FACT_DECODES_PAYLOAD, FACT_SIGNS_NOTHING_AFTER_AUTH, FRAMING_DATAGRAM,
-    FRAMING_STREAM, MAX_ADDR, PIECE_CONTINUED, PIECE_END_OF_FRAME, PIECE_FIELDS, PIECE_HAS_CODE,
-    PIECE_HAS_RETRY_AFTER, PIECE_STREAM_FAILED, PIECE_TEXT, PIECE_WRITABLE, ROLE_CARRIER,
-    ROLE_FRAMER, SETTING_FLAG, SETTING_TEXT, STATUS_AT_TERMINAL, STATUS_OTHER, STATUS_SUCCESS,
-    UNIT0_HANDSHAKE, YIELD_ENDED, YIELD_HAS_DEADLINE, YIELD_MORE, YIELD_STREAM_FULL,
+    AcceptOut, ArrivalOut, Claim, ConnFacts, EmitIn, FinishIn, FramePiece, FrameSpan, FramerOut,
+    HeadSlots, IoOut, ListenOut, LocateOut, SettingDecl, StatusRow, TransportTail,
+    CANCEL_COMPLETED, CANCEL_NOTHING_MOVED, FACT_DECODES_PAYLOAD, FACT_SIGNS_NOTHING_AFTER_AUTH,
+    FRAMING_DATAGRAM, FRAMING_STREAM, MAX_ADDR, PIECE_CONTINUED, PIECE_END_OF_FRAME, PIECE_FIELDS,
+    PIECE_HAS_CODE, PIECE_HAS_RETRY_AFTER, PIECE_STREAM_FAILED, PIECE_TEXT, PIECE_WRITABLE,
+    ROLE_CARRIER, ROLE_FRAMER, SETTING_FLAG, SETTING_TEXT, STATUS_AT_TERMINAL, STATUS_OTHER,
+    STATUS_SUCCESS, UNIT0_HANDSHAKE, YIELD_ENDED, YIELD_HAS_DEADLINE, YIELD_MORE,
+    YIELD_STREAM_FULL,
 };
 use super::{
     DatagramRoute, KeyingMaterial, RendezvousTerms, FINGERPRINT_BYTES, HANDSHAKE_ANSWERS,
@@ -687,6 +688,24 @@ pub fn check_final_status(i: &FinishIn, rows: &[StatusRow], claim: u32) -> Resul
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// An `emit`'s STATUS ([`EmitIn::status`], INBOUND-LISTEN, `BUSBAR-1.6.0.md` l.4913): stated on
+/// the emit that carries an ACCEPTED stream's answer head (`answers_head`), and on no other. The
+/// framer refuses the emit that breaks it, before any byte of it reaches the wire.
+///
+/// # Errors
+///
+/// The rule the emit breaks.
+pub fn check_emit_status(i: &EmitIn, answers_head: bool) -> Result<(), Fault> {
+    if i._status_reserved != 0 {
+        return Err(fault(Rule::UnknownCode, "emit._status_reserved"));
+    }
+    match (answers_head, i.status) {
+        (true, 0) => Err(fault(Rule::Missing, "emit.status")),
+        (false, s) if s != 0 => Err(fault(Rule::Contradiction, "emit.status")),
+        _ => Ok(()),
+    }
+}
+
 /// Every setting: a path and a known kind.
 ///
 /// # Errors
diff --git a/crates/busbar-contract/src/abi/transport/mod.rs b/crates/busbar-contract/src/abi/transport/mod.rs
index adaa649124..699e3bab5b 100644
--- a/crates/busbar-contract/src/abi/transport/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/busbar-contract/src/abi/transport/mod.rs
@@ -1062,6 +1062,15 @@ pub struct EmitIn {
     pub deadline_ns: u64,
     /// The datagram lane ([`datagram`]): NULL for a stream framer. A tail addition (pre-tag v1).
     pub lane: *const DatagramLane,
+    /// THE ANSWER'S STATUS (INBOUND-LISTEN, `BUSBAR-1.6.0.md` l.4913): on an ACCEPTED stream's FIRST
+    /// emit, the one carrying the answer's head (its bytes `encode` rendered), the status the answer
+    /// carries, in the numbering of the claim the stream arrived on; a status that asks the far end
+    /// to switch protocols hands the connection to the claimed upgrade framer ([`slot::DETACH`]).
+    /// `0` on every other emit, where a stated status is refused
+    /// ([`check::check_emit_status`]). Never a `:status` field. A tail addition (pre-tag v1).
+    pub status: u32,
+    /// Alignment padding.
+    pub _status_reserved: u32,
 }
 
 /// `encode`'s `in`. The rendered bytes go into `sink.wire`.
diff --git a/crates/busbar-contract/tests/golden/abi-layout.golden b/crates/busbar-contract/tests/golden/abi-layout.golden
index d613b94692..3741f9921a 100644
--- a/crates/busbar-contract/tests/golden/abi-layout.golden
+++ b/crates/busbar-contract/tests/golden/abi-layout.golden
@@ -1800,7 +1800,9 @@ tkind::EmitIn.flags=124
 tkind::EmitIn.sink=128
 tkind::EmitIn.deadline_ns=208
 tkind::EmitIn.lane=216
-tkind::EmitIn.__size=224
+tkind::EmitIn.status=224
+tkind::EmitIn._status_reserved=228
+tkind::EmitIn.__size=232
 tkind::EmitIn.__align=8
 tkind::EncodeIn.head=0
 tkind::EncodeIn.fields=88
diff --git a/crates/busbar-contract/tests/layout_golden.rs b/crates/busbar-contract/tests/layout_golden.rs
index 3a86dc8e1c..06219e70a0 100644
--- a/crates/busbar-contract/tests/layout_golden.rs
+++ b/crates/busbar-contract/tests/layout_golden.rs
@@ -1613,7 +1613,9 @@ fn compute_layout() -> String {
             flags,
             sink,
             deadline_ns,
-            lane
+            lane,
+            status,
+            _status_reserved
         ]
     );
     record!(