diff --git a/data/mastervega-rules.json b/data/mastervega-rules.json
index bf24feb..9a1c44a 100644
--- a/data/mastervega-rules.json
+++ b/data/mastervega-rules.json
@@ -433,6 +433,12 @@
       "attitudeThreshold": 45,
       "aiProposeChance": 0.25
     },
+    "warRequest": {
+      "_readme": "\"Please make peace with them\" — a request about a THIRD PARTY's war (VegaDiplomacy.js's wouldAcceptPeaceRequest/requestPeace/offerPeaceRequest). friendThreshold is how much the one being asked has to like the requester to grant it as a favor when they wouldn't otherwise; refuseBelowAttitude is how bad their own war with the third party can be before even a friend's plea is waved off. aiProposeChance is per-friend-per-turn, checked only once the human is already at war with that friend.",
+      "friendThreshold": 40,
+      "refuseBelowAttitude": -70,
+      "aiProposeChance": 0.15
+    },
     "espionage": {
       "_readme": "Sabotage magnitude when a runEspionage roll succeeds with mission 'sabotage' (VegaLogic.js). Targeting/frequency/odds are unchanged from the steal-tech path; this only controls what a sabotage success does. A successful mission (sabotage or tech theft) carries no attitude penalty — nobody publicly knows who did it, so there's nobody for the victim to be angry at; getting CAUGHT is the one outcome that still costs relations.",
       "sabotageFactoriesFraction": 0.25,
diff --git a/src/games/mastervega/MasterOfVegaGame.js b/src/games/mastervega/MasterOfVegaGame.js
index f4c130f..d8e76ee 100644
--- a/src/games/mastervega/MasterOfVegaGame.js
+++ b/src/games/mastervega/MasterOfVegaGame.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import { openSystemView } from './VegaSystemView.js';
 import { openCombatViewV2 } from './VegaCombatViewV2.js';
 import {
   FONT, D, openDiplomacyScreen, openCouncilScreen, openLeaderScreen,
-  openSaveScreen, openLoadScreen, showVictoryOverlay,
+  openSaveScreen, openLoadScreen, showVictoryOverlay, openFormationPicker,
 } from './VegaScreens.js';
 import { openColoniesScreen } from './VegaColoniesScreen.js';
 import { openResearchScreen } from './VegaResearchScreen.js';
@@ -1167,23 +1167,29 @@ export default class MasterOfVegaGame extends Phaser.Scene {
     const next = (i) => {
       if (i >= pending.length) { this.refreshAll(); done(); return; }
       const { starIdx, other } = pending[i];
-      const prepared = Logic.prepareBattleAt(this.rules, this.state, starIdx, me, other);
-      if (!prepared) { next(i + 1); return; }
       this.map?.panToStar(starIdx, 260);
       this.modalOpen = true;
-      this.music?.setCategory('combat');
-      openCombatViewV2(this, this.rules, prepared.battle, this.art, {
-        attackerSpecies: this.state.empires[prepared.attackerIdx].speciesId,
-        defenderSpecies: this.state.empires[prepared.defenderIdx].speciesId,
-        playerSide: prepared.attackerIdx === me ? 'attacker' : 'defender',
-        onDone: (result) => {
-          Logic.applyBattleOutcome(this.rules, this.state, prepared, result);
-          this.modalOpen = false;
-          this.music?.setCategory('peace');
-          this.refreshAll();
-          next(i + 1);
-        },
-      });
+      // Forced (closable: false) — there's no sensible "cancel" once fleets
+      // are already committed to this fight. Only the human's own side is
+      // ever asked; the AI opponent always picks silently (Logic
+      // .prepareBattleAt's own comment).
+      openFormationPicker(this, (humanFormation) => {
+        const prepared = Logic.prepareBattleAt(this.rules, this.state, starIdx, me, other, { humanFormation });
+        if (!prepared) { this.modalOpen = false; next(i + 1); return; }
+        this.music?.setCategory('combat');
+        openCombatViewV2(this, this.rules, prepared.battle, this.art, {
+          attackerSpecies: this.state.empires[prepared.attackerIdx].speciesId,
+          defenderSpecies: this.state.empires[prepared.defenderIdx].speciesId,
+          playerSide: prepared.attackerIdx === me ? 'attacker' : 'defender',
+          onDone: (result) => {
+            Logic.applyBattleOutcome(this.rules, this.state, prepared, result);
+            this.modalOpen = false;
+            this.music?.setCategory('peace');
+            this.refreshAll();
+            next(i + 1);
+          },
+        });
+      }, { closable: false });
     };
     next(0);
   }
diff --git a/src/games/mastervega/VegaAudience.js b/src/games/mastervega/VegaAudience.js
index f731026..dc669ed 100644
--- a/src/games/mastervega/VegaAudience.js
+++ b/src/games/mastervega/VegaAudience.js
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ import {
 import { atWar, grantTech } from './VegaLogic.js';
 import {
   attitudeOf, moodOf, videoMood, canNegotiate, declareWar, proposeTreaty, respondToOffer, tradeTech, giveGift,
+  requestPeace,
 } from './VegaDiplomacy.js';
 import { CHAT, pickLine } from './VegaChat.js';
 
@@ -535,10 +536,14 @@ export function openAudienceScreen(scene, rules, state, me, otherIdx, art, onClo
   }
   const openingOffer = state.empires[me].pendingOffers[otherIdx];
   if (openingOffer) {
-    const key = openingOffer.kind === 'peace' ? chat.offerPeaceOpener
-      : openingOffer.kind === 'alliance' ? chat.offerAllianceOpener
-      : chat.offerTradeAgreementOpener;
-    pushChat('o', pickLine(key, vars));
+    if (openingOffer.kind === 'peaceRequest') {
+      pushChat('o', pickLine(chat.offerPeaceRequestOpener, { ...vars, third: state.empires[openingOffer.thirdParty]?.name }));
+    } else {
+      const key = openingOffer.kind === 'peace' ? chat.offerPeaceOpener
+        : openingOffer.kind === 'alliance' ? chat.offerAllianceOpener
+        : chat.offerTradeAgreementOpener;
+      pushChat('o', pickLine(key, vars));
+    }
   }
 
   // A fresh (this-turn-or-last) fleet complaint gets its own opener line,
@@ -568,9 +573,29 @@ export function openAudienceScreen(scene, rules, state, me, otherIdx, art, onClo
   }
 
   function doPending(accept) {
-    pushChat('p', pickLine(accept ? chat.acceptOffer : chat.rejectOffer, vars));
+    const offer = state.empires[me].pendingOffers[otherIdx];
+    const isPeaceRequest = offer?.kind === 'peaceRequest';
+    const thirdVars = isPeaceRequest ? { ...vars, third: state.empires[offer.thirdParty]?.name } : vars;
+    pushChat('p', pickLine(
+      isPeaceRequest ? (accept ? chat.acceptPeaceRequest : chat.rejectPeaceRequest)
+        : (accept ? chat.acceptOffer : chat.rejectOffer),
+      thirdVars,
+    ));
     respondToOffer(rules, state, me, otherIdx, accept);
-    say(pickLine(accept ? chat.afterAccepted : chat.afterRejected, vars));
+    if (isPeaceRequest) {
+      // respondToOffer's own true/false means "was there an offer to
+      // answer," not "did the treaty succeed" (existing callers depend on
+      // that contract) — the actual outcome is read back off the treaty
+      // state instead, only when accepted.
+      const madePeace = accept && !atWar(state, me, offer.thirdParty);
+      say(pickLine(
+        !accept ? chat.afterPeaceRequestRejected
+          : madePeace ? chat.afterPeaceRequestAcceptedSuccess : chat.afterPeaceRequestAcceptedTried,
+        thirdVars,
+      ));
+    } else {
+      say(pickLine(accept ? chat.afterAccepted : chat.afterRejected, thirdVars));
+    }
     afterAction();
   }
 
@@ -628,6 +653,18 @@ export function openAudienceScreen(scene, rules, state, me, otherIdx, art, onClo
     afterAction();
   }
 
+  // Asking `otherIdx` to end a war with a THIRD empire — see
+  // VegaDiplomacy.js's requestPeace for why this is kept separate from
+  // proposeTreaty/wouldAccept (it's a favor about someone else's war, not a
+  // treaty between the two people actually talking).
+  function doRequestPeace(thirdPartyIdx) {
+    const reqVars = { ...vars, third: state.empires[thirdPartyIdx].name };
+    pushChat('p', pickLine(chat.requestPeaceThird, reqVars));
+    const accepted = requestPeace(rules, state, me, otherIdx, thirdPartyIdx);
+    say(pickLine(accepted ? chat.replyRequestPeaceAccept : chat.replyRequestPeaceReject, reqVars));
+    afterAction();
+  }
+
   function doTechTrade(giveId, wantId) {
     pushChat('p', pickLine(chat.tradeTechOffer, { ...vars, tech: rules.techs[wantId].name }));
     const ok = tradeTech(rules, state, me, otherIdx, giveId, wantId);
@@ -668,7 +705,10 @@ export function openAudienceScreen(scene, rules, state, me, otherIdx, art, onClo
     say(pickLine(chat.storyLore, vars));
   }
 
-  function pickFromList(title, ids, onPick) {
+  // `labelFn` defaults to the tech-name lookup every existing caller wants;
+  // doRequestWhichWar (below) is the one caller that isn't picking a tech,
+  // so it passes an empire-name lookup instead.
+  function pickFromList(title, ids, onPick, labelFn = (id) => rules.techs[id].name) {
     const box = scene.add.container(0, 0);
     root.add(box);
     const bx = GAME_WIDTH / 2;
@@ -678,7 +718,7 @@ export function openAudienceScreen(scene, rules, state, me, otherIdx, art, onClo
     box.add(scene.add.rectangle(bx, by, 420, h, PANEL, 0.98).setStrokeStyle(2, ACCENT));
     box.add(scene.add.text(bx, by - h / 2 + 26, title, { fontFamily: FONT, fontSize: '19px', color: '#ffd88a' }).setOrigin(0.5));
     ids.slice(0, 12).forEach((id, i) => {
-      const t = scene.add.text(bx, by - h / 2 + 66 + i * 34, rules.techs[id].name, {
+      const t = scene.add.text(bx, by - h / 2 + 66 + i * 34, labelFn(id), {
         fontFamily: FONT, fontSize: '16px', color: '#e8f4ff',
       }).setOrigin(0.5).setInteractive({ useHandCursor: true });
       t.on('pointerover', () => t.setColor('#ffd88a'));
@@ -691,6 +731,12 @@ export function openAudienceScreen(scene, rules, state, me, otherIdx, art, onClo
     box.add(cancel);
   }
 
+  /** Opens the "which war?" picker for Demand Peace, listing every empire
+   * `otherIdx` is at war with (that a request could ever succeed against). */
+  function openWarPicker(warTargets) {
+    pickFromList('END WHICH WAR?', warTargets, doRequestPeace, (idx) => state.empires[idx].name);
+  }
+
   function openTechPicker(giveOptions, wantOptions) {
     pickFromList('OFFER WHICH TECHNOLOGY?', giveOptions, (giveId) => {
       pickFromList('ASK FOR WHICH TECHNOLOGY?', wantOptions, (wantId) => doTechTrade(giveId, wantId));
@@ -768,6 +814,14 @@ export function openAudienceScreen(scene, rules, state, me, otherIdx, art, onClo
       const want = Object.keys(state.empires[otherIdx].known).filter((t) => !state.empires[me].known[t]);
       if (give.length && want.length) items.push(['Trade Tech', () => openTechPicker(give, want)]);
       if (giftAffordable) items.push(['Send Gift', openGiftPicker]);
+      // Wars otherIdx is fighting against a THIRD empire — one the request
+      // could ever actually reach (canNegotiate both ways), never our own
+      // war with them (that's Sue for Peace, above).
+      const theirWars = state.empires
+        .filter((o) => o.alive && o.idx !== me && o.idx !== otherIdx
+          && atWar(state, otherIdx, o.idx) && canNegotiate(rules, state, otherIdx, o.idx))
+        .map((o) => o.idx);
+      if (theirWars.length) items.push(['Demand Peace', () => openWarPicker(theirWars)]);
     }
     const treatyRows = layoutRow(items, BTN_Y);
     let nextY = BTN_Y + treatyRows * (BTN_H + BTN_GAP);
diff --git a/src/games/mastervega/VegaChat.js b/src/games/mastervega/VegaChat.js
index 0ccffba..8d84f50 100644
--- a/src/games/mastervega/VegaChat.js
+++ b/src/games/mastervega/VegaChat.js
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 //   {you} — the human empire's display name
 //   {me}  — this species' empire name
 //   {tech} — a technology name, for the tech-trade situations
+//   {third} — a third empire's display name, for the "make peace with them"
+//     request situations
 // Resolved (already-substituted) text is what VegaAudience.js pushes into
 // state.chatLog, not the templates.
 //
@@ -36,6 +38,23 @@
 //     offer from this species.
 //   afterAccepted / afterRejected — this species' reaction to the player's
 //     answer to their own offer.
+//   requestPeaceThird / replyRequestPeaceAccept / replyRequestPeaceReject —
+//     the PLAYER asking THIS species to make peace with a third empire
+//     (VegaDiplomacy.js's requestPeace), and their reply. Uses a third
+//     token, {third}, alongside the usual {me}/{you}.
+//   offerPeaceRequestOpener — this species' own opening line when THEY ask
+//     the PLAYER to make peace with a third empire (offerPeaceRequest,
+//     held exactly like offerPeaceOpener/offerAllianceOpener above).
+//   acceptPeaceRequest / rejectPeaceRequest — the PLAYER's line answering
+//     that request (same Accept/Reject buttons a treaty offer uses —
+//     respondToOffer's 'peaceRequest' branch is what makes accepting mean
+//     "I'll propose peace to the third party," not a treaty with the asker).
+//   afterPeaceRequestAcceptedSuccess / afterPeaceRequestAcceptedTried —
+//     this species' reaction once the player agreed to try: Success if the
+//     third party actually accepted the resulting peace proposal, Tried if
+//     the third party turned it down anyway (not the player's fault).
+//   afterPeaceRequestRejected — this species' reaction to the player
+//     declining to even try.
 //
 // Additionally, three pure-flavor "conversation" topics, present for every
 // diplomacy-capable species, with ZERO effect on attitude — gating lives in
@@ -189,6 +208,42 @@ export const CHAT = {
       'I\'ve got a standing proposal for you, {you} — a trade agreement, ongoing, good for us both.',
       'Let\'s formalize something, {you}: regular trade, on the record.',
     ],
+    requestPeaceThird: [
+      'Do us both a favor, {me} — make peace with {third}. A war on your border is bad for trade on mine.',
+      'I\'d rather see you and {third} at peace, {me}. Fighting\'s bad for everyone\'s bottom line.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceAccept: [
+      'You\'ve got a point, {you}. I\'ll open talks with {third}.',
+      'Fine, {you} — for you, I\'ll make the offer to {third}.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceReject: [
+      'Not this time, {you}. My war with {third} isn\'t yours to settle.',
+      'I appreciate the thought, {you}, but {third} hasn\'t earned peace yet.',
+    ],
+    offerPeaceRequestOpener: [
+      'A favor, {you}: make peace with {third}. It\'s bad business watching a friend bleed money on a war.',
+      'I\'m asking you to end things with {third}, {you}. Consider it a personal request.',
+    ],
+    acceptPeaceRequest: [
+      'Fair enough, {me}. I\'ll make the offer to {third}.',
+      'For you, {me} — I\'ll try to settle things with {third}.',
+    ],
+    rejectPeaceRequest: [
+      'Not this time, {me}. That war is mine to end, on my terms.',
+      'I\'ll pass, {me}. {third} hasn\'t earned it from me yet.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedSuccess: [
+      'Good business, {you}. Peace with {third} suits everyone\'s ledger.',
+      'Well done, {you} — {third} and I can both stop paying for this war now.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedTried: [
+      'Appreciated, {you}, even if {third} wasn\'t ready to listen.',
+      'You tried, {you} — that\'s worth something, even though {third} said no.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestRejected: [
+      'Disappointing, {you}. I thought we understood each other better.',
+      'Noted, {you}. I won\'t forget you turned down a simple favor.',
+    ],
     fleetComplaintOpener: [
       'Your fleet\'s been sitting over my colony a little too long, {you}. Care to explain, or just move it?',
       'I\'ll be direct, {you}: that fleet parked over my world is bad for business. Move it.',
@@ -357,6 +412,42 @@ export const CHAT = {
       'The aerie proposes something lasting, {you} — a standing trade agreement, not merely a single exchange.',
       'Let us formalize our commerce, {you}. I offer an ongoing arrangement.',
     ],
+    requestPeaceThird: [
+      'Fold your wings toward {third}, {me}. This war does not become you.',
+      'I ask a favor of the aerie, {me}: make peace with {third}.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceAccept: [
+      'For you, {you}, we will offer {third} our terms.',
+      'A reasonable request. The aerie will approach {third}.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceReject: [
+      'No, {you}. {third} has not yet earned our mercy.',
+      'That quarrel is ours to end, {you}, not yours to arrange.',
+    ],
+    offerPeaceRequestOpener: [
+      'A request, {you}: make your peace with {third}. It troubles the aerie to watch a friend circle so low.',
+      'I ask this of you, {you} — end your war with {third}. Do it for us, if not for yourself.',
+    ],
+    acceptPeaceRequest: [
+      'Since you ask it, {me}, I will approach {third}.',
+      'For the aerie\'s sake, {me}, I will try.',
+    ],
+    rejectPeaceRequest: [
+      'No, {me}. That sky is mine to clear.',
+      'I decline, {me}. {third} has not yet fallen far enough.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedSuccess: [
+      'Well flown, {you}. The aerie rests easier with {third} at peace.',
+      'Gracefully done, {you}. Two wars end today.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedTried: [
+      'You tried, {you}, even if {third}\'s wings proved too proud to land.',
+      'The effort is noted, {you}, though {third} was not yet ready to listen.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestRejected: [
+      'A groundling\'s answer, {you}. The aerie remembers who refuses a simple favor.',
+      'Then the sky between us grows a little colder, {you}.',
+    ],
     fleetComplaintOpener: [
       'Your ships circle our nest longer than courtesy allows, {you}. Explain yourself, or withdraw them.',
       'A fleet that lingers over our aerie is no longer a guest, {you}. Move it.',
@@ -524,6 +615,42 @@ export const CHAT = {
       'We offer something that holds, {you} — not a single exchange, but a standing arrangement.',
       'Let our trade stand steady, {you}. We propose an agreement.',
     ],
+    requestPeaceThird: [
+      'Stop fighting {third}, {me}. Enough blood spilled there.',
+      'Make peace with {third}, {me}. I ask it plainly.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceAccept: [
+      'Fine, {you}. I will offer {third} an end to it.',
+      'For you, {you} — I\'ll put down the axe against {third}.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceReject: [
+      'No, {you}. That fight is not finished.',
+      '{third} has not bled enough yet, {you}. Not your call to make.',
+    ],
+    offerPeaceRequestOpener: [
+      'Make peace with {third}, {you}. I ask it as one who stands beside you.',
+      'End it with {third}, {you}. A war you carry hurts us both.',
+    ],
+    acceptPeaceRequest: [
+      'For you, {me}, I\'ll offer {third} peace.',
+      'Fine, {me}. I\'ll try with {third}.',
+    ],
+    rejectPeaceRequest: [
+      'No, {me}. {third} has not earned it.',
+      'That fight stays mine, {me}.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedSuccess: [
+      'Good. {third} and you, at peace — stronger for it, {you}.',
+      'Well done, {you}. One less war weighs on us both.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedTried: [
+      'You tried, {you}. {third} refused — not your failing.',
+      'Effort noted, {you}, even though {third} would not yield.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestRejected: [
+      'Weak answer, {you}. I will remember it.',
+      'Then we remember, {you}, who refuses a simple ask.',
+    ],
     fleetComplaintOpener: [
       'Your ships sit over our ground too long, {you}. Explain the weight of that, or lift it.',
       'A fleet that does not move becomes an occupation, {you}. Move it.',
@@ -692,6 +819,42 @@ export const CHAT = {
       'We propose something lasting, {you} — a trade agreement. Sincerely, for whatever that\'s worth from us.',
       'A standing arrangement, {you}. We\'d like to make this formal, believe it or not.',
     ],
+    requestPeaceThird: [
+      'Wear a kinder face for {third}, {me}. Make peace.',
+      'I ask you to end it with {third}, {me} — even we tire of watching, sometimes.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceAccept: [
+      'How generous of me, {you}. I\'ll offer {third} peace — this once.',
+      'Very well, {you}. I\'ll play the peacemaker with {third}. It\'s a good look on me.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceReject: [
+      'No, {you}. That mask doesn\'t suit me yet.',
+      'I\'ll keep the war with {third}, {you}. It amuses me still.',
+    ],
+    offerPeaceRequestOpener: [
+      'A strange request from me, {you}, I know — make peace with {third}. Even we grow tired of some faces.',
+      'I ask a favor, {you}: end your war with {third}. Trust me, if you can manage it.',
+    ],
+    acceptPeaceRequest: [
+      'If it pleases you, {me}, I\'ll offer {third} peace.',
+      'Fine, {me}. I\'ll wear the face of a peacemaker with {third}.',
+    ],
+    rejectPeaceRequest: [
+      'No, {me}. I like the war with {third} exactly as it is.',
+      'I\'ll decline, {me}. Not every mask fits.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedSuccess: [
+      'How refreshing, {you} — peace with {third}, and you actually meant it.',
+      'Well played, {you}. {third} never saw it coming, and neither did I.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedTried: [
+      'You tried, {you}. {third} wasn\'t buying it — I almost respect that.',
+      'A convincing effort, {you}, even if {third} saw through it.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestRejected: [
+      'How predictable, {you}. I\'ll remember the face you showed me.',
+      'Refused, {you}? I\'ll wear that against you later.',
+    ],
     fleetComplaintOpener: [
       'Your fleet has worn out its welcome over our world, {you}. Move it, or explain why it stays.',
       'We\'ve watched your ships linger long enough, {you}. That\'s not a face we appreciate.',
@@ -860,6 +1023,42 @@ export const CHAT = {
       'Continuous exchange protocol calculated as favorable, {you}. Proposed.',
       'Standing trade function available, {you}. Proposing.',
     ],
+    requestPeaceThird: [
+      'Cease hostilities with {third}. We request it.',
+      'Terminate conflict-state with {third}, {me}. Request logged.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceAccept: [
+      'Request accepted. Peace-protocol will be offered to {third}.',
+      'Acknowledged. We will approach {third}.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceReject: [
+      'Request denied. Conflict-state with {third} continues.',
+      'Negative. {third} has not met termination-conditions.',
+    ],
+    offerPeaceRequestOpener: [
+      'Request: terminate your conflict-state with {third}. Reason: mutual inefficiency.',
+      'We require this of you: cease hostilities with {third}.',
+    ],
+    acceptPeaceRequest: [
+      'Acknowledged. Peace-protocol will be offered to {third}.',
+      'Request accepted. We will attempt termination with {third}.',
+    ],
+    rejectPeaceRequest: [
+      'Request denied. Conflict-state with {third} continues.',
+      'Negative. Termination not authorized.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedSuccess: [
+      'Termination confirmed. Efficiency restored.',
+      'Conflict-state with {third} resolved. Function approves.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedTried: [
+      'Attempt logged. {third} rejected termination. Compliance noted regardless.',
+      'Request processed. Outcome with {third} negative. Effort acknowledged.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestRejected: [
+      'Request denial logged. Cooperation-rating reduced.',
+      'Non-compliance recorded.',
+    ],
     fleetComplaintOpener: [
       'Foreign vessel detected over colony function beyond acceptable duration, {you}. Withdraw it.',
       'Occupation pattern logged at colony coordinates, {you}. Explain function or withdraw.',
@@ -1027,6 +1226,42 @@ export const CHAT = {
       'A recurring exchange has been calculated as favorable, {you}. Proposing a standing agreement.',
       'Continuous trade improves both systems, {you}. Proposal offered.',
     ],
+    requestPeaceThird: [
+      'Decommission your conflict with {third}, {me}. It is an inefficient allocation of resources.',
+      'End the war with {third}, {me}. I recommend it as an upgrade to your situation.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceAccept: [
+      'Optimization accepted, {you}. I will offer {third} peace.',
+      'Logical. I will initiate peace with {third}, {you}.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceReject: [
+      'Rejected, {you}. The war with {third} is not yet obsolete.',
+      'No. {third} has not yet reached the threshold for peace.',
+    ],
+    offerPeaceRequestOpener: [
+      'A recommendation, {you}: decommission your war with {third}. It is wasted output.',
+      'I propose an upgrade to your foreign policy, {you} — peace with {third}.',
+    ],
+    acceptPeaceRequest: [
+      'Recommendation accepted, {me}. I will offer {third} peace.',
+      'Logical. I will attempt peace with {third}.',
+    ],
+    rejectPeaceRequest: [
+      'Rejected, {me}. That conflict remains operational.',
+      'No. The war with {third} has not reached obsolescence.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedSuccess: [
+      'Optimization complete, {you}. {third} at peace — efficiency restored.',
+      'Confirmed. Your foreign policy is now upgraded, {you}.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedTried: [
+      'Attempt logged, {you}. {third} rejected the upgrade. Compliance noted.',
+      'Process completed, output negative — {third} declined. Effort registered.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestRejected: [
+      'Rejection logged, {you}. Cooperation index lowered.',
+      'Non-compliance noted, {you}. Recalculating trust.',
+    ],
     fleetComplaintOpener: [
       'Your fleet occupies orbital space above my colony beyond acceptable parameters, {you}. Relocate it.',
       'Unauthorized presence logged at my colony, {you}. Justify it or withdraw.',
@@ -1194,6 +1429,42 @@ export const CHAT = {
       'I offer something that holds, {you} — not one trade, but a standing arrangement.',
       'Let this go beyond a single exchange, {you}. A trade agreement, proposed.',
     ],
+    requestPeaceThird: [
+      'Sheathe your claws against {third}, {me}. I ask it.',
+      'End the hunt with {third}, {me}. Enough blood.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceAccept: [
+      'Fine, {you}. I\'ll offer {third} its life.',
+      'For you, {you} — I\'ll call off the hunt against {third}.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceReject: [
+      'No, {you}. {third} has not yet earned mercy.',
+      'That hunt is mine, {you}. Not yours to end.',
+    ],
+    offerPeaceRequestOpener: [
+      'Sheathe your claws against {third}, {you}. I ask this of you.',
+      'End your hunt with {third}, {you}. Do it, and I\'ll remember it.',
+    ],
+    acceptPeaceRequest: [
+      'Fine, {me}. I\'ll offer {third} its life.',
+      'For you, {me} — I\'ll call off my hunt.',
+    ],
+    rejectPeaceRequest: [
+      'No, {me}. {third} has not earned mercy.',
+      'That hunt is mine to finish.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedSuccess: [
+      'Good. {third} lives, and you\'ve proven you keep your word, {you}.',
+      'Well done, {you}. A clean kill would have been simpler — this was harder.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedTried: [
+      'You bared your throat and asked, {you}. {third} refused. Not your failure.',
+      'You tried, {you}. {third} wasn\'t ready to yield. I respect the attempt.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestRejected: [
+      'A coward\'s answer, {you}. I\'ll remember it.',
+      'Refused? Then remember I asked, {you}.',
+    ],
     fleetComplaintOpener: [
       'Your ships have circled my territory too long, {you}. Move them, or give me a reason not to treat them as prey.',
       'A fleet that lingers this long isn\'t visiting, {you}. It\'s hunting. Explain, or withdraw.',
@@ -1361,6 +1632,42 @@ export const CHAT = {
       'I have modeled the benefit of a continuous arrangement, {you}. It exceeds a single exchange. Proposed.',
       'A logical next step, {you}: a standing trade agreement, rather than isolated trades.',
     ],
+    requestPeaceThird: [
+      'The optimal solution, {me}, is peace with {third}. I recommend you see it.',
+      'Consider the equation, {me}: your war with {third} solves nothing. End it.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceAccept: [
+      'A logical request, {you}. I will offer {third} the same solution.',
+      'Correctly reasoned, {you}. I will approach {third}.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceReject: [
+      'An incomplete argument, {you}. The variables with {third} have not yet resolved.',
+      'No, {you}. The equation is not yet solvable.',
+    ],
+    offerPeaceRequestOpener: [
+      'A simple proof, {you}: your war with {third} has no winning solution. End it.',
+      'I offer you the answer, {you} — make peace with {third}. The logic is plain.',
+    ],
+    acceptPeaceRequest: [
+      'The proof holds, {me}. I will offer {third} peace.',
+      'Correctly reasoned, {me}. I will attempt it.',
+    ],
+    rejectPeaceRequest: [
+      'An incomplete proof, {me}. I decline.',
+      'No, {me}. The variables have not resolved.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedSuccess: [
+      'Solved elegantly, {you}. {third} at peace — the correct answer, reached.',
+      'As predicted, {you}. The logical outcome, achieved.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedTried: [
+      'The proof was sound, {you}, even if {third} could not follow it. Noted regardless.',
+      'You reasoned correctly, {you}. {third} simply lacked the capacity to agree.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestRejected: [
+      'A flawed conclusion, {you}. I will remember the error.',
+      'Disappointing, {you}. I expected better logic from you.',
+    ],
     fleetComplaintOpener: [
       'Your fleet\'s continued presence over my colony no longer registers as accidental, {you}. Explain, or withdraw it.',
       'I have recalculated your intentions given the duration of that fleet\'s presence, {you}, and the results are not favorable. Move it.',
@@ -1528,6 +1835,42 @@ export const CHAT = {
       'The brood proposes something lasting, {you} — a standing trade agreement, not a single exchange.',
       'Let our clutches trade as neighbors do, {you}. We offer an ongoing arrangement.',
     ],
+    requestPeaceThird: [
+      'Withdraw your claws from {third}\'s brood, {me}. Make peace.',
+      'I ask you to end your war with {third}, {me}, for the good of both clutches.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceAccept: [
+      'For you, {you}, I will offer {third}\'s brood peace.',
+      'Very well, {you}. I will spare {third}\'s clutch, this once.',
+    ],
+    replyRequestPeaceReject: [
+      'No, {you}. {third}\'s brood has not yet paid enough.',
+      'That territory is not yet settled, {you}. Not yours to decide.',
+    ],
+    offerPeaceRequestOpener: [
+      'A request from one clutch to another, {you}: make peace with {third}.',
+      'I ask you to spare {third}\'s brood, {you}, and end this war.',
+    ],
+    acceptPeaceRequest: [
+      'For the clutch\'s sake, {me}, I will offer {third} peace.',
+      'Very well, {me}. I will spare {third}, this once.',
+    ],
+    rejectPeaceRequest: [
+      'No, {me}. {third}\'s brood has not paid enough yet.',
+      'That territory remains contested, {me}.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedSuccess: [
+      'Good. {third}\'s brood lives, and our clutches both grow stronger for it, {you}.',
+      'Wisely done, {you}. Peace with {third} serves every brood better than war did.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestAcceptedTried: [
+      'You asked on our behalf, {you}. {third} refused — the fault is theirs, not yours.',
+      'The attempt is noted, {you}, though {third}\'s brood was not yet ready to yield.',
+    ],
+    afterPeaceRequestRejected: [
+      'A poor answer, {you}. The clutch remembers who refuses a simple request.',
+      'Then remember, {you}, that we asked, and you said no.',
+    ],
     fleetComplaintOpener: [
       'Your fleet crowds our territory too long, {you}. The brood does not tolerate lingering guests. Withdraw it.',
       'That fleet sits over our clutch longer than courtesy allows, {you}. Explain yourself, or move it.',
diff --git a/src/games/mastervega/VegaCombatSim.js b/src/games/mastervega/VegaCombatSim.js
index 8851de0..2a0bf3e 100644
--- a/src/games/mastervega/VegaCombatSim.js
+++ b/src/games/mastervega/VegaCombatSim.js
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ import { createBattle, runBattle } from './VegaCombat.js';
 import { openCombatView } from './VegaCombatView.js';
 import * as CombatV2 from './VegaCombatV2.js';
 import { openCombatViewV2 } from './VegaCombatViewV2.js';
-import { FORMATION_STRATEGIES, formationName } from './VegaFormations.js';
+import { formationName } from './VegaFormations.js';
 import { VegaMusic } from './VegaMusic.js';
-import { FONT, uiClick, modalShell } from './VegaScreens.js';
+import { FONT, uiClick, openFormationPicker } from './VegaScreens.js';
 
 const PANEL_BG = 0x0b1220;
 const PANEL_LINE = 0x2c435f;
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ export default class VegaCombatSim extends Phaser.Scene {
       // strategy. The defender ("AI") gets no prompt at all — it picks
       // silently, which CombatV2.createBattle already does on its own for
       // any side that doesn't supply a valid choice.
-      this.openFormationPicker((formationStrategy) => this.launchV2Battle(formationStrategy));
+      openFormationPicker(this, (formationStrategy) => this.launchV2Battle(formationStrategy));
       return;
     }
     const { attacker, defender, colony } = this.buildBattleOpts();
@@ -269,38 +269,6 @@ export default class VegaCombatSim extends Phaser.Scene {
     });
   }
 
-  // A simple two-card picker: click a strategy to commit it immediately and
-  // start the battle (no separate confirm step — this is a "real quick" dev
-  // tool, not a game screen). Shown fresh every Watch Battle press in V2
-  // mode; nothing is remembered between battles.
-  openFormationPicker(onPick) {
-    const shell = modalShell(this, 'Choose Formation Strategy', null, { width: 980, height: 420 });
-    const { body } = shell;
-    shell.add(this.add.text(body.x + body.w / 2, body.y, 'Your fleet’s tactical doctrine for this battle. The enemy fleet picks its own, silently.', {
-      fontFamily: FONT, fontSize: '16px', color: '#6f8aa8', align: 'center',
-    }).setOrigin(0.5, 0));
-
-    const cardW = (body.w - 40) / 2;
-    const cardY = body.y + body.h / 2 + 20;
-    FORMATION_STRATEGIES.forEach((f, i) => {
-      const cx = body.x + cardW / 2 + i * (cardW + 40);
-      const card = this.add.rectangle(cx, cardY, cardW, 160, PANEL_BG, 0.7)
-        .setStrokeStyle(2, PANEL_LINE, 0.9);
-      shell.add(card);
-      shell.add(this.add.text(cx, cardY - 48, f.name, {
-        fontFamily: FONT, fontSize: '22px', color: '#cfe8ff',
-      }).setOrigin(0.5));
-      shell.add(this.add.text(cx, cardY - 4, f.desc, {
-        fontFamily: FONT, fontSize: '15px', color: '#9fb6cc', align: 'center', wordWrap: { width: cardW - 40 },
-      }).setOrigin(0.5, 0));
-      const btn = new Button(this, cx, cardY + 55, 'Choose', uiClick(this, () => {
-        shell.destroy();
-        onPick(f.id);
-      }), { width: 160, height: 44, fontSize: 16 });
-      shell.add(btn);
-    });
-  }
-
   runTrials(n) {
     if (!this.battleReady()) return;
     const { attacker, defender, colony } = this.buildBattleOpts();
diff --git a/src/games/mastervega/VegaCombatV2.js b/src/games/mastervega/VegaCombatV2.js
index fc3fafc..b56c9e4 100644
--- a/src/games/mastervega/VegaCombatV2.js
+++ b/src/games/mastervega/VegaCombatV2.js
@@ -448,10 +448,9 @@ function layoutFormation(rules, ships) {
 // frame closely, and a big one spans proportionally more of the (now much
 // bigger) world.
 // Returns the layout too (not just a side effect on `ships`) — createBattle
-// uses `defenderEndX` to anchor a defended planet just past the defender's
-// own fleet, rather than at a fixed world-edge position that would now sit
-// far off in empty space, disconnected from a fleet placed near the world's
-// center.
+// reads `centerY` to keep a defended planet vertically level with the
+// fleets (the planet's own X is fixed independently of this layout — see
+// createBattle's own comment on why).
 //
 // The proportional gap is clamped to never push the total span past the
 // world's own width. Without this, a large mixed-hull fleet (many ships,
@@ -576,10 +575,15 @@ export function createBattle(rules, opts) {
   const layout = placeFleets(rules, aShips, dShips);
 
   // A defended colony fights as an extra immobile entity that cannot be
-  // boarded — killing it is what clears the way for an invasion. Anchored
-  // just past the defender fleet's own footprint (not a fixed world-edge
-  // position) so it stays visually coherent with where the defender's
-  // ships actually ended up, and inside the camera's initial framing.
+  // boarded — killing it is what clears the way for an invasion. Fixed at
+  // the midpoint between the world's centre and the defender-side edge
+  // (Brian: "about equal distance from the edge of the screen and the
+  // center on its side") rather than anchored off the defender fleet's own
+  // footprint — a formation-relative anchor put the planet at very
+  // different depths depending on fleet size/spread, which read as the
+  // planet drifting around from battle to battle instead of holding a
+  // stable "home world" position. Defender is always placed on the +X side
+  // (placeFleets), so worldWidth is that side's edge.
   let planet = null;
   if (colony && colony.defenseHp > 0) {
     planet = {
@@ -588,10 +592,11 @@ export function createBattle(rules, opts) {
       side: 'defender',
       isPlanet: true,
       name: 'Planetary Defences',
+      typeId: colony.typeId,
       hp: colony.defenseHp,
       hpMax: colony.defenseHp,
       shield: colony.shieldBonus ?? 0,
-      x: layout.defenderEndX + 220,
+      x: C2.worldWidth * 0.75,
       y: layout.centerY,
       facing: Math.PI,
       angularVelocity: 0,
diff --git a/src/games/mastervega/VegaCombatViewV2.js b/src/games/mastervega/VegaCombatViewV2.js
index ab734e4..056c050 100644
--- a/src/games/mastervega/VegaCombatViewV2.js
+++ b/src/games/mastervega/VegaCombatViewV2.js
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import VegaFx from './VegaFx.js';
 import {
   advance, runBattle, battleResult, shipBounds, SIM_DT,
 } from './VegaCombatV2.js';
-import { shipFrame } from './VegaArt.js';
+import { shipFrame, planetFrame } from './VegaArt.js';
 import { buildParallax, bindZoomPan } from './VegaCombatCamera.js';
 import { formationName } from './VegaFormations.js';
 import { makeCommanderPortrait } from './VegaShipMedia.js';
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ import { makeCommanderPortrait } from './VegaShipMedia.js';
 // multiplied by the firing ship's hull.sizeScale instead.
 const SHIP_BASE_SIZE = 58;
 
+// A defended planet reads as bigger than any single ship (even a maxed-out
+// battleship at SHIP_BASE_SIZE * 2.5 ≈ 145) without dominating the frame.
+const PLANET_MARKER_SIZE = 110;
+const SHIELD_RING_COLOR = 0x4fd8ff;
+
 // Fire events now arrive as a steady trickle (each ship's own ~2s cooldown,
 // staggered by whenever it entered range) rather than one big per-round
 // batch, so every event gets both its visual FX AND its sound cue — no
@@ -343,13 +348,25 @@ export function openCombatViewV2(scene, rules, battle, art, opts = {}) {
     markers.clear();
     for (const s of battle.ships) {
       const c = scene.add.container(s.x, s.y);
+      let shieldRing = null;
       if (s.isPlanet) {
-        const g = scene.add.graphics();
-        g.fillStyle(0x8a6a3a, 1);
-        g.fillCircle(0, 0, 26);
-        g.lineStyle(2, 0xffd88a, 0.8);
-        g.strokeCircle(0, 0, 32);
-        c.add(g);
+        const img = scene.add.image(0, 0, art.planets, planetFrame(rules, s.typeId))
+          .setDisplaySize(PLANET_MARKER_SIZE, PLANET_MARKER_SIZE);
+        c.add(img);
+        // A planetary shield's magnitude (from the Planetary Shield building,
+        // rules.buildings.planetaryshield's shieldBonus effect) is fixed for
+        // the whole battle — only WHETHER it's still up changes, tracked by
+        // toggling this ring's visibility in syncMarkers as the planet's own
+        // hp falls, rather than redrawing it every frame.
+        if (s.shield > 0) {
+          shieldRing = scene.add.graphics();
+          const r = PLANET_MARKER_SIZE / 2 + 14;
+          shieldRing.fillStyle(SHIELD_RING_COLOR, 0.18);
+          shieldRing.fillCircle(0, 0, r);
+          shieldRing.lineStyle(2.5, SHIELD_RING_COLOR, 0.75);
+          shieldRing.strokeCircle(0, 0, r);
+          c.add(shieldRing);
+        }
       } else {
         const species = s.side === 'attacker' ? attackerSpecies : defenderSpecies;
         const size = SHIP_BASE_SIZE * (s.design.hull.sizeScale ?? 1);
@@ -367,7 +384,7 @@ export function openCombatViewV2(scene, rules, battle, art, opts = {}) {
         c.add(img);
       }
       shipLayer.add(c);
-      markers.set(s.uid, { ship: s, container: c });
+      markers.set(s.uid, { ship: s, container: c, shieldRing });
     }
     refreshSummaries();
   }
@@ -383,6 +400,9 @@ export function openCombatViewV2(scene, rules, battle, art, opts = {}) {
       m.container.setAlpha(alive ? 1 : 0.25);
       m.container.setPosition(m.ship.x, m.ship.y);
       if (!m.ship.isPlanet) m.container.setRotation(m.ship.facing + Math.PI / 2);
+      // Hide the shield the instant the planet's own hp is gone — "unless
+      // it's destroyed" (Brian's ask).
+      m.shieldRing?.setVisible(m.ship.hp > 0);
     }
     if (aliveCount !== lastSummaryAlive) {
       lastSummaryAlive = aliveCount;
diff --git a/src/games/mastervega/VegaDiplomacy.js b/src/games/mastervega/VegaDiplomacy.js
index e28b489..2bbeb46 100644
--- a/src/games/mastervega/VegaDiplomacy.js
+++ b/src/games/mastervega/VegaDiplomacy.js
@@ -139,6 +139,61 @@ export function proposeTreaty(rules, state, a, b, kind) {
   return true;
 }
 
+// --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// "Please make peace with them" — a request about a THIRD PARTY's war, not a
+// bilateral treaty between the two empires actually negotiating. Kept
+// separate from wouldAccept/proposeTreaty/proposeOrOffer above since their
+// shape (an offer resolves into a treaty between exactly the two parties
+// talking) doesn't fit a favor that's about someone else's relationship.
+// Only ever runs in one of two directions — the player asking an AI
+// (requestPeace, resolved immediately, same as every other player-initiated
+// audience action) or an AI asking the human (offerPeaceRequest, always
+// held — mirrors proposeOrOffer's own reasoning: resolving it unilaterally
+// would give the Audience screen's Accept/Reject buttons nothing to decide).
+// AI-to-AI never happens; nothing in this file needs it, so it's not built.
+
+// Would `target` agree to make peace with `thirdParty`, asked by `requester`?
+// Baseline is whatever `target` would decide on the war's own merits (the
+// same read wouldAccept('peace') already uses) — a friend's request tips the
+// balance for a target that WOULDN'T otherwise sue for peace, but only if
+// they like the requester enough and the war isn't going so badly that even
+// a friend's plea gets waved off.
+export function wouldAcceptPeaceRequest(rules, state, requester, target, thirdParty) {
+  if (!atWar(state, target, thirdParty)) return false;
+  if (!canNegotiate(rules, state, target, thirdParty)) return false;
+  if (wouldAccept(rules, state, thirdParty, target, 'peace')) return true;
+  const cfg = rules.diplomacy.warRequest;
+  return attitudeOf(state, target, requester) >= cfg.friendThreshold
+    && attitudeOf(state, target, thirdParty) > cfg.refuseBelowAttitude;
+}
+
+// The player asking `target` (always an AI) to make peace with `thirdParty`.
+// Refusal costs the same small sting proposeTreaty's own refusal already
+// costs elsewhere in this file — being told no by someone you leaned on is a
+// real, if minor, friction point. Success also warms `target` toward the
+// player a little on top of makePeace's own bilateral bump: gratitude for
+// having been asked nicely rather than just left to fight.
+export function requestPeace(rules, state, requester, target, thirdParty) {
+  if (!wouldAcceptPeaceRequest(rules, state, requester, target, thirdParty)) {
+    adjust(state, target, requester, -3);
+    return false;
+  }
+  makePeace(rules, state, target, thirdParty);
+  adjust(state, target, requester, 6);
+  return true;
+}
+
+// An AI (`a`) asking the HUMAN (`b`) to make peace with `thirdParty`. Held
+// exactly like proposeOrOffer's human-targeted branch; answered through
+// respondToOffer, which special-cases offer.kind === 'peaceRequest' since
+// accepting it doesn't create a treaty between `a` and `b` at all.
+export function offerPeaceRequest(rules, state, a, b, thirdParty) {
+  if (state.empires[b].pendingOffers[a]) return 'pending';
+  state.empires[b].pendingOffers[a] = { kind: 'peaceRequest', thirdParty, turn: state.turn };
+  state.events.push({ type: 'offerReceived', empire: a, other: b, kind: 'peaceRequest', turn: state.turn });
+  return 'pending';
+}
+
 // When an AI proposes peace or an alliance TO THE HUMAN, resolving it
 // unilaterally (like AI-vs-AI) would give the Audience screen's Accept/Reject
 // buttons nothing to actually decide. So a proposal aimed at the human is
@@ -166,6 +221,21 @@ export function respondToOffer(rules, state, b, a, accept) {
     if (offer.kind === 'peace') makePeace(rules, state, a, b);
     else if (offer.kind === 'alliance') formAlliance(rules, state, a, b);
     else if (offer.kind === 'tradeAgreement') formTradeAgreement(rules, state, a, b);
+    else if (offer.kind === 'peaceRequest') {
+      // Agreeing means `b` (the human) commits to actually proposing peace to
+      // the third party — same proposeTreaty check a personal Sue for Peace
+      // visit would run, so this can still fail to land if the third party
+      // itself isn't willing. Either way `a` is pleased the human tried;
+      // more so if it actually worked. madePeace rides on the event (not the
+      // return value here — respondToOffer's own true/false already means
+      // "was there an offer to answer", not "did the treaty succeed", and
+      // existing callers depend on that).
+      const madePeace = proposeTreaty(rules, state, b, offer.thirdParty, 'peace');
+      adjust(state, a, b, madePeace ? 15 : 4);
+      state.events.push({
+        type: 'peaceRequestResolved', empire: b, other: a, thirdParty: offer.thirdParty, madePeace, turn: state.turn,
+      });
+    }
   } else {
     adjust(state, a, b, -8); // the proposer stings at being refused
     adjust(state, b, a, -2); // refusing is itself a small friction cost
@@ -334,6 +404,22 @@ export function runDiplomacyTurn(rules, state, e) {
         && rand(state) < allianceCfg.aiProposeChance) {
       proposeOrOffer(rules, state, e, other.idx, 'alliance');
     }
+
+    // Ask the human to make peace with a friend of ours, if the human is at
+    // war with them — a favor request about someone ELSE's war, not about
+    // e's own relationship with the human (see VegaDiplomacy.js's
+    // offerPeaceRequest, above). `other` here is guaranteed not at war with
+    // e (the atWar(e, other) branch above already `continue`d) and liked
+    // enough by e (`att`) to count as "a friend."
+    const warCfg = rules.diplomacy.warRequest;
+    if (other.idx !== state.humanIndex && emp.contacted[state.humanIndex]
+        && canNegotiate(rules, state, e, state.humanIndex)
+        && atWar(state, state.humanIndex, other.idx)
+        && att > warCfg.friendThreshold
+        && !human?.pendingOffers?.[e]
+        && rand(state) < warCfg.aiProposeChance) {
+      offerPeaceRequest(rules, state, e, state.humanIndex, other.idx);
+    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/games/mastervega/VegaLogic.js b/src/games/mastervega/VegaLogic.js
index 871849b..2fcc45f 100644
--- a/src/games/mastervega/VegaLogic.js
+++ b/src/games/mastervega/VegaLogic.js
@@ -1334,7 +1334,13 @@ function applyBattleLosses(rules, state, starIdx, e, survivors) {
 // Split out of fightAt so the player can drive a battle tick by tick through
 // VegaCombatViewV2 and then hand the outcome back — the interactive battle
 // and auto-resolve therefore run the same engine and cannot diverge.
-export function prepareBattleAt(rules, state, starIdx, a, b) {
+// `humanFormation` (VegaFormations.js id) is stamped onto whichever side is
+// state.humanIndex, so a human-participated battle can carry the tactic the
+// player actually chose (MasterOfVegaGame.js's playPlayerBattles, via its
+// pre-battle formation picker) instead of createBattle's own silent-random
+// fallback for an unset side. AI-vs-AI battles (fightAt, below) never pass
+// this and are unaffected — both sides stay silently random as before.
+export function prepareBattleAt(rules, state, starIdx, a, b, { humanFormation = null } = {}) {
   const colony = colonyAt(state, starIdx);
   const defenderIdx = colony && (colony.empireIdx === a || colony.empireIdx === b) ? colony.empireIdx : b;
   const attackerIdx = defenderIdx === a ? b : a;
@@ -1350,14 +1356,29 @@ export function prepareBattleAt(rules, state, starIdx, a, b) {
   };
   const attacker = mkSide(attackerIdx);
   const defender = mkSide(defenderIdx);
+  if (humanFormation) {
+    if (attackerIdx === state.humanIndex) attacker.formationStrategy = humanFormation;
+    else if (defenderIdx === state.humanIndex) defender.formationStrategy = humanFormation;
+  }
   const defColony = colony && colony.empireIdx === defenderIdx ? colony : null;
   if (!attacker.ships.length) return null;
   if (!defender.ships.length && !(defColony && defColony.defenseHp > 0)) return null;
 
+  // The planet's typeId rides along purely for the tactical view's art (the
+  // real planets spritesheet instead of a generic icon) — the combat engine
+  // itself never reads it. shieldBonus was hard-coded to 0 here until now,
+  // which meant the Planetary Shield building's own effect (rules.buildings
+  // .planetaryshield's shieldBonus:5) was silently never applied to a real
+  // battle, only ever exercised through the standalone ?movsim simulator's
+  // manual stepper — found while wiring the shield ring into the view.
   const battle = createBattle(rules, {
     attacker,
     defender,
-    colony: defColony ? { defenseHp: defColony.defenseHp, shieldBonus: 0 } : null,
+    colony: defColony ? {
+      defenseHp: defColony.defenseHp,
+      shieldBonus: buildingEffect(rules, defColony, 'shieldBonus'),
+      typeId: state.galaxy.stars[starIdx]?.planets[defColony.orbit]?.typeId,
+    } : null,
     starIdx,
     rnd: () => rand(state),
   });
diff --git a/src/games/mastervega/VegaResearchScreen.js b/src/games/mastervega/VegaResearchScreen.js
index d4352bb..8dd2994 100644
--- a/src/games/mastervega/VegaResearchScreen.js
+++ b/src/games/mastervega/VegaResearchScreen.js
@@ -217,7 +217,10 @@ export function openResearchScreen(scene, rules, state, e, art, onClose, { initi
     gridLayer.add(bg);
 
     const lvl = fieldTechLevel(rules, state, e, field.id);
-    gridLayer.add(scene.add.text(bx + 12, by + 8, `${field.name.toUpperCase()} · Lv ${lvl}`, {
+    const fieldIconSize = 26;
+    gridLayer.add(scene.add.image(bx + 12 + fieldIconSize / 2, by + 8 + 10, art.techfields, field.iconFrame)
+      .setDisplaySize(fieldIconSize, fieldIconSize));
+    gridLayer.add(scene.add.text(bx + 12 + fieldIconSize + 8, by + 8, `${field.name.toUpperCase()} · Lv ${lvl}`, {
       fontFamily: FONT, fontSize: '18px', color: '#cfe8ff',
     }));
 
@@ -312,7 +315,10 @@ export function openResearchScreen(scene, rules, state, e, art, onClose, { initi
 
     const field = rules.techFields[selectedField];
     const detailLvl = fieldTechLevel(rules, state, e, selectedField);
-    detailLayer.add(scene.add.text(detailX, headingY, `${field.name.toUpperCase()} — TECH TREE (Level ${detailLvl})`, {
+    const detailIconSize = 22;
+    detailLayer.add(scene.add.image(detailX + detailIconSize / 2, headingY + 9, art.techfields, field.iconFrame)
+      .setDisplaySize(detailIconSize, detailIconSize));
+    detailLayer.add(scene.add.text(detailX + detailIconSize + 8, headingY, `${field.name.toUpperCase()} — TECH TREE (Level ${detailLvl})`, {
       fontFamily: FONT, fontSize: '18px', color: '#cfe8ff',
     }));
 
diff --git a/src/games/mastervega/VegaScreens.js b/src/games/mastervega/VegaScreens.js
index 9e14f30..8544b29 100644
--- a/src/games/mastervega/VegaScreens.js
+++ b/src/games/mastervega/VegaScreens.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { leaderOffers } from './VegaLeaders.js';
 
 import { makeSpeciesPortrait } from './VegaArt.js';
 import { openAudienceScreen } from './VegaAudience.js';
+import { FORMATION_STRATEGIES } from './VegaFormations.js';
 
 export const FONT = '"Julius Sans One"';
 // `colony` sits above `modal` so the colony screen can stack over the system
@@ -157,6 +158,47 @@ export function slider(scene, x, y, w, label, value, onChange, colour = ACCENT)
   };
 }
 
+// --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/**
+ * A simple two-card picker for the player's pre-battle formation strategy
+ * (VegaFormations.js). The opposing side always picks silently — an unset
+ * side falls back to VegaCombatV2.createBattle's own seeded-random choice —
+ * this screen only ever asks about the player's own side. Shared by
+ * VegaCombatSim.js's dev tool (closable, a "real quick" testing aid) and the
+ * real pre-battle flow (MasterOfVegaGame.js's playPlayerBattles, forced —
+ * `closable: false`, since there is no sensible "cancel" once fleets are
+ * already committed to a fight this turn).
+ */
+export function openFormationPicker(scene, onPick, { closable = true } = {}) {
+  const shell = modalShell(scene, 'Choose Formation Strategy', null, { width: 980, height: 420, closable });
+  const { body } = shell;
+  shell.add(scene.add.text(body.x + body.w / 2, body.y,
+    "Your fleet's tactical doctrine for this battle. The enemy fleet picks its own, silently.", {
+      fontFamily: FONT, fontSize: '16px', color: '#8fa8c0', align: 'center',
+    }).setOrigin(0.5, 0));
+
+  const cardW = (body.w - 40) / 2;
+  const cardY = body.y + body.h / 2 + 20;
+  FORMATION_STRATEGIES.forEach((f, i) => {
+    const cx = body.x + cardW / 2 + i * (cardW + 40);
+    const card = scene.add.rectangle(cx, cardY, cardW, 160, PANEL, 0.7).setStrokeStyle(2, ACCENT, 0.9);
+    shell.add(card);
+    shell.add(scene.add.text(cx, cardY - 48, f.name, {
+      fontFamily: FONT, fontSize: '22px', color: '#cfe8ff',
+    }).setOrigin(0.5));
+    shell.add(scene.add.text(cx, cardY - 4, f.desc, {
+      fontFamily: FONT, fontSize: '15px', color: '#9fb6cc', align: 'center', wordWrap: { width: cardW - 40 },
+    }).setOrigin(0.5, 0));
+    const btn = new Button(scene, cx, cardY + 55, 'Choose', uiClick(scene, () => {
+      shell.destroy();
+      onPick(f.id);
+    }), { width: 160, height: 44, fontSize: 16 });
+    shell.add(btn);
+  });
+  return shell;
+}
+
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Research has its own file, VegaResearchScreen.js — it grew past this
 // module's shared factory-function pattern the same way Audience and the
diff --git a/tools/verifyMasterOfVega.js b/tools/verifyMasterOfVega.js
index fd6cefc..11c3661 100644
--- a/tools/verifyMasterOfVega.js
+++ b/tools/verifyMasterOfVega.js
@@ -2344,6 +2344,122 @@ section('7. Diplomacy and the Galactic Council');
       st3.events.some((e) => e.type === 'offerExpired' && e.empire === 1 && e.other === 0));
   }
 
+  // --- "make peace with them" third-party requests (VegaDiplomacy.js's
+  // wouldAcceptPeaceRequest/requestPeace/offerPeaceRequest) — a favor about
+  // someone ELSE's war, not a treaty between the two people actually
+  // talking. Brian's ask: the player can ask an AI to end a war with a
+  // third empire, an AI can ask the player the same, and refusing either
+  // direction costs the relationship.
+  {
+    const stP = Logic.createGame(RULES, {
+      sizeId: 'small', shapeId: 'cluster', seed: 7373, difficultyId: 'normal',
+      speciesIds: ['human', 'kkrix', 'ursaal'], humanIndex: 0,
+    });
+    stP.rules = RULES;
+    const player = 0;
+    const target = 1;
+    const third = 2;
+    for (const e of stP.empires) {
+      e.totalPop = 100;
+      for (const o of stP.empires) if (o.idx !== e.idx) { e.contacted[o.idx] = true; e.attitude[o.idx] = 0; }
+    }
+    Diplo.declareWar(RULES, stP, target, third);
+    check('fixture: target is at war with third', Logic.atWar(stP, target, third));
+
+    stP.empires[target].attitude[third] = -50; // not losing badly, not devoted either
+    stP.empires[target].attitude[player] = 0; // not yet a friend
+    check('a stranger\'s request is refused when the target has no independent reason to accept',
+      !Diplo.wouldAcceptPeaceRequest(RULES, stP, player, target, third));
+
+    stP.empires[target].attitude[player] = 60;
+    check('a friend\'s request succeeds as a favor even when the target would not sue for peace unprompted',
+      Diplo.wouldAcceptPeaceRequest(RULES, stP, player, target, third));
+
+    stP.empires[target].attitude[third] = -90;
+    check('even a friend\'s request is refused when the target\'s own war attitude is bad enough',
+      !Diplo.wouldAcceptPeaceRequest(RULES, stP, player, target, third));
+
+    // requestPeace: success actually makes peace and warms target toward the
+    // requester beyond makePeace's own bilateral bump; failure stings instead.
+    stP.empires[target].attitude[third] = -50;
+    stP.empires[target].attitude[player] = 60;
+    const beforeAtt = Diplo.attitudeOf(stP, target, player);
+    const ok = Diplo.requestPeace(RULES, stP, player, target, third);
+    check('requestPeace succeeds when wouldAcceptPeaceRequest is true', ok === true);
+    check('a successful request actually makes peace', !Logic.atWar(stP, target, third));
+    check('a successful request warms the target toward the requester',
+      Diplo.attitudeOf(stP, target, player) > beforeAtt);
+
+    Diplo.declareWar(RULES, stP, target, third); // reset the war for the failure case
+    stP.empires[target].attitude[player] = -50; // no longer a friend
+    stP.empires[target].attitude[third] = -90; // and losing badly
+    const beforeAtt2 = Diplo.attitudeOf(stP, target, player);
+    const failed = Diplo.requestPeace(RULES, stP, player, target, third);
+    check('requestPeace fails when wouldAcceptPeaceRequest is false', failed === false);
+    check('a failed request still leaves them at war', Logic.atWar(stP, target, third));
+    check('a failed request costs the requester a small sting',
+      Diplo.attitudeOf(stP, target, player) < beforeAtt2);
+
+    // offerPeaceRequest: held exactly like proposeOrOffer's human-targeted
+    // branch, and respondToOffer's peaceRequest case resolves acceptance as
+    // "try to make peace with the third party," not a treaty with the asker.
+    Diplo.declareWar(RULES, stP, player, third); // now the HUMAN is at war with third
+    const heldReq = Diplo.offerPeaceRequest(RULES, stP, target, player, third);
+    check('offerPeaceRequest holds, same contract as proposeOrOffer', heldReq === 'pending');
+    check('the held peaceRequest offer carries its thirdParty',
+      stP.empires[player].pendingOffers[target]?.thirdParty === third);
+    const heldAgain = Diplo.offerPeaceRequest(RULES, stP, target, player, third);
+    check('a second peaceRequest from the same asker does not clobber the first', heldAgain === 'pending');
+
+    stP.empires[third].attitude[player] = 50; // so the resulting proposeTreaty to third can land
+    const beforeAskerAtt = Diplo.attitudeOf(stP, target, player);
+    const respAccept = Diplo.respondToOffer(RULES, stP, player, target, true);
+    check('respondToOffer resolves a held peaceRequest (true, same contract as any offer)',
+      respAccept === true);
+    check('accepting a peaceRequest attempts peace with the third party',
+      !Logic.atWar(stP, player, third));
+    check('accepting clears the pending offer', !stP.empires[player].pendingOffers[target]);
+    check('the asker is pleased the human tried',
+      Diplo.attitudeOf(stP, target, player) > beforeAskerAtt);
+    check('accepting a peaceRequest pushes a peaceRequestResolved event',
+      stP.events.some((e) => e.type === 'peaceRequestResolved' && e.empire === player && e.other === target
+        && e.thirdParty === third && e.madePeace === true));
+
+    // Rejecting reuses the exact generic refusal path every other offer kind
+    // already uses — refusing costs the relationship, Brian's explicit ask.
+    Diplo.declareWar(RULES, stP, player, third);
+    Diplo.offerPeaceRequest(RULES, stP, target, player, third);
+    const beforeReject = Diplo.attitudeOf(stP, target, player);
+    Diplo.respondToOffer(RULES, stP, player, target, false);
+    check('rejecting a peaceRequest costs the relationship, same as any other refused offer',
+      Diplo.attitudeOf(stP, target, player) < beforeReject);
+    check('rejecting a peaceRequest never touches the third party\'s treaty',
+      Logic.atWar(stP, player, third));
+
+    // AI-initiation: an AI that likes a friend enough, with the human at war
+    // with that friend, eventually offers the human a peaceRequest.
+    const stAI = Logic.createGame(RULES, {
+      sizeId: 'small', shapeId: 'cluster', seed: 8181, difficultyId: 'normal',
+      speciesIds: ['human', 'kkrix', 'ursaal'], humanIndex: 0,
+    });
+    stAI.rules = RULES;
+    for (const e of stAI.empires) {
+      e.totalPop = 100;
+      for (const o of stAI.empires) if (o.idx !== e.idx) { e.contacted[o.idx] = true; e.attitude[o.idx] = 0; }
+    }
+    const asker = 1;
+    const friend = 2;
+    Diplo.declareWar(RULES, stAI, stAI.humanIndex, friend);
+    let anyOffered = false;
+    for (let i = 0; i < 100 && !anyOffered; i += 1) {
+      stAI.empires[asker].attitude[friend] = 80; // pin above friendThreshold — isolate the dice roll
+      Diplo.runDiplomacyTurn(RULES, stAI, asker);
+      anyOffered = !!stAI.empires[stAI.humanIndex].pendingOffers[asker];
+    }
+    check('runDiplomacyTurn eventually offers the human a peaceRequest for a war against a liked empire',
+      anyOffered, `pendingOffers=${JSON.stringify(stAI.empires[stAI.humanIndex].pendingOffers)}`);
+  }
+
   // --- colonize() must trigger contact even when nobody's fleet just moved.
   {
     const stC = Logic.createGame(RULES, {
@@ -2714,6 +2830,9 @@ section('7. Diplomacy and the Galactic Council');
       'offerTradeAgreementOpener',
       'fleetComplaintOpener', 'acknowledgeComplaintWithdraw', 'acknowledgeComplaintDefy',
       'afterComplaintWithdrawPromise', 'afterComplaintDefy',
+      'requestPeaceThird', 'replyRequestPeaceAccept', 'replyRequestPeaceReject',
+      'offerPeaceRequestOpener', 'acceptPeaceRequest', 'rejectPeaceRequest',
+      'afterPeaceRequestAcceptedSuccess', 'afterPeaceRequestAcceptedTried', 'afterPeaceRequestRejected',
     ];
     // Lore reply pools are meant to carry real variety — enforce a minimum
     // beyond "non-empty" since pickLine's empty-pool fallback is silent and
@@ -3454,10 +3573,11 @@ section('11. Combat V2 (per-ship prototype)');
 {
   // Headless like everything else here — VegaCombatV2.js is Phaser-free, so
   // this whole section is a plain Node exercise, same pattern as section 5.
-  // This engine is NOT used by real player battles (wired only into
-  // VegaCombatSim.js's ?movsim Live/V2 toggle) — see
-  // docs/mastervega-build-plan.md for why it's a parallel prototype rather
-  // than a rewrite of VegaCombat.js in place.
+  // This IS the resolver real player battles use (VegaLogic.js imports
+  // createBattle/runBattle from here, not from VegaCombat.js — V1 is kept
+  // only for resolveInvasion and the ?movsim Live/V2 comparison toggle) —
+  // see docs/mastervega-build-plan.md for the history of why it started as
+  // a parallel prototype.
   const techsUpToV2 = (tier) => {
     const k = {};
     for (const t of RULES.techList) if (t.tier <= tier) k[t.id] = true;
@@ -3545,6 +3665,64 @@ section('11. Combat V2 (per-ship prototype)');
       both1.attackerFormation === both2.attackerFormation && both1.defenderFormation === both2.defenderFormation);
   }
 
+  // Logic.prepareBattleAt — the real-game seam between the engine and a
+  // player battle. Scripted through a real state (not a hand-built fixture)
+  // since it reads fleets/colonies/buildings/galaxy data no synthetic object
+  // could cheaply fake correctly. Covers three things fixed together in one
+  // pass: the player's own pre-battle formation choice actually reaching the
+  // battle, the Planetary Shield building's shieldBonus actually reaching
+  // the defended planet (it was hard-coded to 0 before, so the building's
+  // effect was silently never applied to a real battle), and the planet's
+  // typeId riding along for the tactical view's real planet art.
+  {
+    const st = Logic.createGame(RULES, {
+      sizeId: 'small', shapeId: 'cluster', seed: 5151, difficultyId: 'normal',
+      speciesIds: ['human', 'kkrix'], humanIndex: 0,
+    });
+    st.rules = RULES;
+    const attackerIdx = st.humanIndex;
+    const defenderIdx = attackerIdx === 0 ? 1 : 0;
+    const defColony = st.colonies.find((c) => c.empireIdx === defenderIdx);
+    const starIdx = defColony.starIdx;
+    defColony.defenseHp = 200;
+    defColony.buildings.push('planetaryshield');
+    Diplo.declareWar(RULES, st, attackerIdx, defenderIdx);
+    Logic.addFleet(RULES, st, attackerIdx, starIdx, [{ hullId: 'frigate', mark: 1, count: 2 }]);
+
+    const prepared = Logic.prepareBattleAt(RULES, st, starIdx, attackerIdx, defenderIdx, { humanFormation: 'speed_swarm' });
+    check('prepareBattleAt finds a valid battle for the scripted attack-a-defended-colony scenario', !!prepared);
+
+    const humanIsAttacker = prepared.attackerIdx === st.humanIndex;
+    const humanFormationOnBattle = humanIsAttacker ? prepared.battle.attackerFormation : prepared.battle.defenderFormation;
+    check("the human's chosen formation reaches battle.*Formation on the human's own side",
+      humanFormationOnBattle === 'speed_swarm', humanFormationOnBattle);
+    const validIds = FORMATION_STRATEGIES.map((f) => f.id);
+    const aiFormationOnBattle = humanIsAttacker ? prepared.battle.defenderFormation : prepared.battle.attackerFormation;
+    check("the AI opponent's formation is still a silent (but valid) pick, not forced",
+      validIds.includes(aiFormationOnBattle));
+
+    const planetEntity = prepared.battle.ships.find((s) => s.isPlanet);
+    check('the defended planet entity exists in the prepared battle', !!planetEntity);
+    check("the Planetary Shield building's shieldBonus (5) reaches the planet entity's shield — was hard-coded to 0 before",
+      planetEntity?.shield === RULES.buildings.planetaryshield.effects.shieldBonus,
+      `${planetEntity?.shield}`);
+    const expectedTypeId = st.galaxy.stars[starIdx].planets[defColony.orbit].typeId;
+    check("the planet entity's typeId matches the actual colonised planet",
+      planetEntity?.typeId === expectedTypeId, `${planetEntity?.typeId} vs ${expectedTypeId}`);
+    check('the planet sits at the fixed midpoint between world centre and its side\'s edge (worldWidth * 0.75)',
+      Math.abs(planetEntity.x - RULES.combatV2.worldWidth * 0.75) < 1e-9, `${planetEntity.x}`);
+
+    // A colony with no Planetary Shield still fights, with no shield at all
+    // (not a stale nonzero default) — the ring the view draws is entirely
+    // conditional on this being > 0.
+    const unshieldedColony = st.colonies.find((c) => c.empireIdx === defenderIdx);
+    unshieldedColony.buildings = unshieldedColony.buildings.filter((b) => b !== 'planetaryshield');
+    const preparedNoShield = Logic.prepareBattleAt(RULES, st, starIdx, attackerIdx, defenderIdx, {});
+    const planetNoShield = preparedNoShield.battle.ships.find((s) => s.isPlanet);
+    check('a colony with no Planetary Shield building reaches battle with shield 0',
+      planetNoShield.shield === 0, `${planetNoShield.shield}`);
+  }
+
   // Determinism, and auto-resolve agreeing with a played-out battle — same
   // structural guarantee as the live engine's equivalent check.
   {