diff --git a/data/combat.json b/data/combat.json
index 8f01e7d..051e557 100644
--- a/data/combat.json
+++ b/data/combat.json
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
   "enabled": true,
 
   "game": {
-    "_comment": "COMBAT IN THE MAIN GAME (the ?combat boot). spawnCount = hostiles that appear around the ship when the player starts (spawnRadius px out — the real spawn SCHEDULES, places + waves, land with the port); autoFire = the ship's guns — while a hostile is within range the ship fires at the NEAREST one (the mouse steers, the cannon tracks; the cannon's own numbers are player.weapon below).",
+    "_comment": "COMBAT IN THE MAIN GAME (the ?combat boot). spawnCount = hostiles that appear around the ship when the player starts. SPAWNING: hostiles materialize OFF-SCREEN — the furthest of the (spawnRadius band, the camera's visible edge + spawnLead) — and FLY IN on their own chase AI (standoff ring, then lances): nothing pops into view mid-fight. spawnRadius px = the minimum materialization band around the ship; spawnLead px = how far PAST the camera's visible edge they materialize (the fly-in distance — bigger = a longer stream across the screen). autoFire = the ship's guns — while a hostile is within range the ship fires at the NEAREST one (the mouse steers, the cannon tracks; the cannon's own numbers are player.weapon below).",
     "spawnCount": 3,
     "spawnRadius": 340,
+    "spawnLead": 140,
     "autoFire": {
       "enabled": true,
       "range": 800
@@ -73,6 +74,49 @@
     "respawnDelay": 2.5
   },
 
+  "enemyTypes": {
+    "_comment": "The hostile roster a WAVE (combat.waves.scripts) can mix — js/combat/EnemyTypes.js deep-merges a type's overrides onto the base `enemy` above, so a type declares only what differs. `raider` is the base craft under a named id (waves write it explicitly); `bomber` rides the same sheet on frame 1 — a slower, tougher, longer-reach striker. Add a craft here (a new `frame` or its own `texture` + stat overrides) and name it in a wave's roster; EnemyTypes.enemySheetList() is the preload seam for its textures.",
+    "raider": {
+      "frame": 0
+    },
+    "bomber": {
+      "frame": 1,
+      "speed": 110,
+      "turn": 2.2,
+      "hull": 90,
+      "shields": 20,
+      "weapon": {
+        "range": 720,
+        "cooldown": 1.8,
+        "bulletSpeed": 260,
+        "damage": 12
+      }
+    }
+  },
+
+  "waves": {
+    "_comment": "WAVE SCRIPTS — the quest-step combat (js/combat/Waves.js + CombatSystem.startWaves; the quest hook that FIRES one lands later, random encounters too — for now the console drives it: window.__ORBIT_COMBAT__.waves). A script is an ordered list of waves. KINDS: 'rolling' = maxConcurrent on screen at a time, each kill sending in replacePerKill more until the force is spent; 'fixed' = the whole force at once, no replacements until exhausted. COMPOSITION: `roster` = enemyTypes id → weight (the mix); `total` = the units deployed (default = the weight sum); `type` + `count` is the single-type shorthand. lead = s before wave 1; gap = s between waves (per-wave `gap` s overrides). The quests reference scripts BY NAME (e.g. {\"combat\": \"raid\"}) when the hook lands.",
+    "lead": 1.5,
+    "gap": 2.0,
+    "defaults": {
+      "maxConcurrent": 3,
+      "replacePerKill": 1
+    },
+    "scripts": {
+      "probe": [
+        { "kind": "fixed", "type": "raider", "count": 3 }
+      ],
+      "skirmish": [
+        { "kind": "rolling", "roster": { "raider": 2 }, "total": 8, "maxConcurrent": 3, "replacePerKill": 1 },
+        { "kind": "fixed", "roster": { "raider": 3, "bomber": 1 }, "total": 4 }
+      ],
+      "raid": [
+        { "kind": "fixed", "roster": { "raider": 4, "bomber": 2 }, "total": 6 },
+        { "kind": "rolling", "roster": { "raider": 3, "bomber": 1 }, "total": 12, "maxConcurrent": 4, "replacePerKill": 1 }
+      ]
+    }
+  },
+
   "playerShip": {
     "_comment": "Your armor (both contexts — the real ship's stats.hullIntegrity/shields replace this when combat ships for real). shields absorb before the hull; after shieldRegenDelay s without a hit, shields regrow at shieldRegenRate/s up to their max. respawn = when your hull breaks you come back (respawnDelay s) instead of the run ending — a stand-in until the real death flow lands.",
     "hull": 100,
diff --git a/dev/combat.test.mjs b/dev/combat.test.mjs
index 67ec829..953e56a 100644
--- a/dev/combat.test.mjs
+++ b/dev/combat.test.mjs
@@ -170,6 +170,12 @@ const { applyDamage, headingOf, orbitStep, handleFeel, pickTarget, feedPush, off
   pathToFileURL(join(__dirname, '../js/combat/Combat.js')).href
 );
 const { EnemyShip } = await import(pathToFileURL(join(__dirname, '../js/combat/EnemyShip.js')).href);
+const { enemyTypeConfig, enemyTypeIds, enemySheetList } = await import(
+  pathToFileURL(join(__dirname, '../js/combat/EnemyTypes.js')).href
+);
+const { normalizeWaves, resolveRoster, WaveRunner } = await import(
+  pathToFileURL(join(__dirname, '../js/combat/Waves.js')).href
+);
 const { Bullet } = await import(pathToFileURL(join(__dirname, '../js/combat/Bullet.js')).href);
 const { CombatSystem } = await import(pathToFileURL(join(__dirname, '../js/combat/CombatSystem.js')).href);
 const { CombatHud } = await import(pathToFileURL(join(__dirname, '../js/combat/CombatHud.js')).href);
@@ -475,6 +481,54 @@ const E = (k, d) => config.get(`combat.enemy.${k}`, d);
   check('system: destroy clears pack + tracers', combat.enemies.length === 0 && combat.bullets.length === 0);
 }
 
+// ------------------------------------------------- off-screen spawning
+
+{
+  // MAIN-GAME SPAWNS: with a camera, hostiles materialize PAST the
+  // visible edge (the worldView half-diagonal + game.spawnLead) and fly
+  // in on their chase AI — nothing pops into view.
+  const VW = 1280, VH = 720;
+  const scene = makeScene({ withSheet: true });
+  scene.cameras = { main: { worldView: { width: VW, height: VH } } };
+  const ship = scene.physics.add.existing(new PhaserStub.Physics.Arcade.Sprite(scene, 0, 0, '__ship', 0));
+  ship.radius = 12;
+  ship.stop = () => {};
+  const combat = new CombatSystem(scene, { ship, onKill: () => {} });
+  combat.autoFire.enabled = false;
+
+  const lead = Math.max(0, Number(config.get('game.spawnLead', 140)) || 0);
+  const halfDiag = Math.hypot(VW, VH) / 2;
+  const radius = combat._offscreenRadius();
+  check('spawn: the materialization radius is the camera edge + lead (≥ the band)',
+    approx(radius, Math.max(Number(config.get('game.spawnRadius', 340)), halfDiag + lead)));
+
+  const pack = combat.spawnPack(0, 0);
+  check('spawn: the pack materializes OFF-SCREEN (past the camera edge)',
+    pack.length === 3 && pack.every((e) => Math.hypot(e.x, e.y) > halfDiag));
+  check('spawn: the pack is still the spawn band wide (0.9–1.1 × radius)',
+    pack.every((e) => {
+      const d = Math.hypot(e.x, e.y);
+      return d >= radius * 0.9 - 1e-9 && d <= radius * 1.1 + 1e-9;
+    }));
+
+  // Wave ships get the same off-screen treatment.
+  combat.startWaves({ waves: [{ kind: 'fixed', roster: { raider: 1 }, total: 2 }], lead: 0, gap: 0 });
+  combat.update(1000, 16);
+  const wave = combat.enemies.filter((e) => e.wave && !e.dead);
+  check('spawn: wave ships materialize OFF-SCREEN too',
+    wave.length === 2 && wave.every((e) => Math.hypot(e.x, e.y) > halfDiag));
+
+  // The fly-in: one step of the chase AI closes in on the player side
+  // (velocity toward the ring point — the ships cross the screen).
+  const e0 = pack[0];
+  e0.update(1000, 16, { x: 0, y: 0 });
+  const closing = e0.body.velocity.x * -e0.x + e0.body.velocity.y * -e0.y; // v · toward-player
+  check('spawn: the fly-in closes in on the player (v · toward > 0)', closing > 0);
+
+  combat.destroy();
+  check('spawn: destroy still clears everything', combat.enemies.length === 0);
+}
+
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------ SFX
 
 {
@@ -633,6 +687,202 @@ const E = (k, d) => config.get(`combat.enemy.${k}`, d);
     hud2.flash('shield') === null && hud2.lastFlash.kind === 'shield');
 }
 
+// ------------------------------------------------------------- enemy types
+
+{
+  const base = enemyTypeConfig();
+  check('types: the base craft = combat.enemy (shipped)', base.hull === E('hull', 60) && base.frame === 0 && base.weapon.range === E('weapon.range', 560));
+  check('types: the shipped roster is raider + bomber', enemyTypeIds().join(',') === 'raider,bomber');
+
+  const raider = enemyTypeConfig('raider');
+  check('types: raider = the base craft under a named id', raider.frame === 0 && raider.hull === base.hull && raider.weapon.range === base.weapon.range);
+
+  const bomber = enemyTypeConfig('bomber');
+  check('types: bomber overrides merge onto the base',
+    bomber.frame === 1 && bomber.speed === 110 && bomber.hull === 90 && bomber.shields === 20 &&
+    bomber.weapon.range === 720 && bomber.weapon.cooldown === 1.8 && bomber.weapon.damage === 12);
+  check('types: bomber inherits what it does not set',
+    bomber.weapon.spread === base.weapon.spread && bomber.weapon.bulletLife === base.weapon.bulletLife &&
+    bomber.ramDamage === base.ramDamage && bomber.hitRadius === base.hitRadius && bomber.texture === base.texture);
+
+  const unknown = enemyTypeConfig('nope');
+  check('types: unknown id → the base craft (warned, not thrown)', unknown === base);
+
+  const sheets = enemySheetList();
+  check('sheets: base first, one entry per source file (bomber shares the sheet)',
+    sheets.length === 1 && sheets[0].src === base.texture && sheets[0].frameWidth === 128 && sheets[0].frameHeight === 128);
+
+  const scene = makeScene({ withSheet: true });
+  const b = new EnemyShip(scene, 0, 0, 0, bomber);
+  check('enemy type: a bomber flies with its own stats (frame 1, hull 90, same scale)',
+    b.frame === 1 && b.maxHull === 90 && b.maxShields === 20 && approx(b.scale, E('size', 54) / 128));
+}
+
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------- waves
+
+{
+  check('waves: the shipped scripts (probe/skirmish/raid)',
+    ['probe', 'skirmish', 'raid'].every((n) => Array.isArray(config.get(`combat.waves.scripts.${n}`))));
+  check('waves: the script defaults ship',
+    config.get('combat.waves.defaults.maxConcurrent', 0) >= 1 && config.get('combat.waves.defaults.replacePerKill', 0) >= 0);
+
+  const bad = [normalizeWaves([]), normalizeWaves({ waves: [] }), normalizeWaves('nope'), normalizeWaves([{ kind: 'rolling' }])];
+  check('waves: empty / unknown / shapeless scripts → rejected with an error',
+    bad.every((b) => !b.ok && typeof b.error === 'string'));
+
+  const inline = normalizeWaves([{ kind: 'rolling', roster: { raider: 2, bomber: 1 } }]);
+  check('waves: the roster weight sum = the default force', inline.ok && inline.waves[0].total === 3 && inline.waves[0].kind === 'rolling');
+  check('waves: the script lead/gap ship (seconds → ms)',
+    inline.lead === Number(config.get('combat.waves.lead', 1.5)) * 1000 && inline.waves[0].gapMs === Number(config.get('combat.waves.gap', 2.0)) * 1000);
+
+  const shorthand = normalizeWaves([{ kind: 'fixed', type: 'bomber', count: 4 }]);
+  check('waves: type/count shorthand → a single-type roster', shorthand.ok && shorthand.waves[0].total === 4 && Object.keys(shorthand.waves[0].roster).join() === 'bomber');
+
+  const perGap = normalizeWaves([
+    { kind: 'fixed', roster: { raider: 1 }, total: 2 },
+    { kind: 'fixed', roster: { raider: 1 }, total: 2, gap: 0.5 },
+  ]);
+  check('waves: a per-wave gap (s) overrides the script gap', perGap.ok && perGap.waves[1].gapMs === 500 && perGap.waves[0].gapMs === perGap.gap);
+
+  const named = normalizeWaves('raid');
+  check('waves: the named "raid" script (fixed 6 → rolling 12 at cap 4)',
+    named.ok && named.waves.length === 2 &&
+    named.waves[0].kind === 'fixed' && named.waves[0].total === 6 &&
+    named.waves[1].kind === 'rolling' && named.waves[1].total === 12 && named.waves[1].maxConcurrent === 4);
+}
+
+{
+  // ROLLING: the cap holds; every kill sends its replacement in; the force is spent.
+  const roll = new WaveRunner(normalizeWaves([{ kind: 'rolling', roster: { raider: 1 }, total: 6, maxConcurrent: 2, replacePerKill: 1 }]));
+  let spawned = 0, killed = 0, peak = 0;
+  spawned += roll.begin().length;
+  peak = Math.max(peak, roll.current.alive);
+  check('runner: rolling begins at the cap (min(maxConcurrent, force))', roll.current.alive === 2);
+  while (!roll.waveCleared()) {
+    killed += 1;
+    spawned += roll.onKill().length;
+    peak = Math.max(peak, roll.current.alive);
+    if (killed > 20) throw new Error('rolling wave never cleared');
+  }
+  check('runner: rolling spends exactly its force (6 kills, 6 deployed)', killed === 6 && spawned === 6);
+  check('runner: the cap is never exceeded (2 on screen)', peak <= 2);
+
+  // FIXED: the whole force at once, no replacements until exhausted.
+  const fixed = new WaveRunner(normalizeWaves([{ kind: 'fixed', roster: { raider: 3, bomber: 1 }, total: 4 }]));
+  check('runner: fixed deploys the whole force at once', fixed.begin().length === 4);
+  let fKills = 0;
+  while (!fixed.waveCleared()) { fixed.onKill(); fKills += 1; if (fKills > 10) break; }
+  check('runner: fixed sends no replacements until exhausted', fKills === 4);
+
+  // MULTI-WAVE: next() hands over, then the run is done.
+  const two = new WaveRunner(normalizeWaves([
+    { kind: 'fixed', roster: { raider: 1 }, total: 1 },
+    { kind: 'fixed', roster: { raider: 1 }, total: 1 },
+  ]));
+  two.begin();
+  two.onKill();
+  check('runner: wave 1 cleared, wave 2 follows', two.waveCleared() === true && two.hasNext === true);
+  check('runner: next() deploys wave 2, then the run is done', two.next().length === 1 && two.next() === null && two.done === true);
+  const st = two.status();
+  check('runner: status reports the spent run (wave 2 of 2)', st.wave === 1 && st.waves === 2 && st.state === 'done' && st.total === 1);
+}
+
+{
+  // The roster's weighted draws — deterministic given the rng.
+  const wave = { total: 4, roster: { raider: 1, bomber: 3 } };
+  check('roster: a draw at 0 takes the first entry', resolveRoster(wave, () => 0).every((t) => t === 'raider'));
+  check('roster: a draw near 1 takes the last entry', resolveRoster(wave, () => 0.999999).every((t) => t === 'bomber'));
+  const mixedSeq = [0.2, 0.5, 0.2, 0.5];
+  let mi = 0;
+  const mixed = resolveRoster(wave, () => mixedSeq[mi++ % mixedSeq.length]);
+  check('roster: draws split by weight (low → raider, mid → bomber)',
+    mixed.length === 4 && mixed.filter((t) => t === 'bomber').length === 2 && mixed.filter((t) => t === 'raider').length === 2);
+}
+
+{
+  // The RUN, driven through CombatSystem (the quest hook's exact path):
+  // lead → wave → gap → wave → done, kills feeding the rolling cap.
+  const scene = makeScene({ withSheet: true });
+  const ship = scene.physics.add.existing(new PhaserStub.Physics.Arcade.Sprite(scene, 0, 0, '__ship', 0));
+  ship.radius = 12;
+  ship.stop = () => {};
+  const events = { start: [], clear: [], complete: null, cancel: 0 };
+  const combat = new CombatSystem(scene, { ship, onKill: () => {} });
+  combat.autoFire.enabled = false; // the test asserts the RUN, not the guns
+  const script = {
+    waves: [
+      { kind: 'rolling', roster: { raider: 1 }, total: 3, maxConcurrent: 2, replacePerKill: 1 },
+      { kind: 'fixed', roster: { bomber: 1 }, total: 2 },
+    ],
+    lead: 0,
+    gap: 0,
+  };
+  const run = combat.startWaves(script, {
+    onWaveStart: (i) => events.start.push(i),
+    onWaveClear: (i) => events.clear.push(i),
+    onComplete: (s) => (events.complete = s),
+    onCancel: () => events.cancel++,
+  });
+  check('waves/system: a run is live (the bar comes up in the lead)',
+    run !== null && combat.active === true && combat.waveStatus().state === 'lead');
+
+  let t = 1000;
+  combat.update(t, 16);
+  const wave1 = combat.enemies.filter((e) => e.wave && !e.dead);
+  check('waves/system: wave 1 deploys at the cap (rolling 2 of 3)', wave1.length === 2 && events.start.length === 1);
+  check('waves/system: wave ships are run-owned (no respawn clock)', wave1.every((e) => e._respawnPending !== true));
+
+  t += 16;
+  combat.update(t, 16);
+  check('waves/system: the live wave holds its cap (no unforced spawns)',
+    combat.enemies.filter((e) => e.wave && !e.dead).length === 2);
+
+  const killOne = () => {
+    const e = combat.enemies.find((x) => x.wave && !x.dead);
+    e.damage(999); // the real path is a tracer sweep → damage() → killEnemy
+    combat.killEnemy(e, t);
+  };
+  killOne();
+  check('waves/system: a rolling kill sends its replacement in (cap holds)',
+    combat.enemies.filter((e) => e.wave && !e.dead).length === 2);
+  killOne();
+  killOne();
+  check('waves/system: the rolling force is spent (3 kills)',
+    combat.enemies.filter((e) => e.wave && !e.dead).length === 0 && combat.kills === 3);
+
+  combat.update(t + 16, 16);
+  check('waves/system: wave 1 clears (the clear event fires)', events.clear.length === 1);
+  combat.update(t + 32, 16);
+  const bombers = combat.enemies.filter((e) => e.wave && !e.dead);
+  check('waves/system: wave 2 deploys whole (fixed: the force at once)', bombers.length === 2);
+  check('waves/system: the roster type flies (bomber stats, not the base)',
+    bombers.every((e) => e.maxHull === 90 && e.frame === 1));
+
+  for (const e of [...bombers]) { e.damage(999); combat.killEnemy(e, t + 48); }
+  combat.update(t + 64, 16);
+  check('waves/system: the run completes (5 spent = 3 + 2, onComplete fires)',
+    combat.waveStatus().state === 'done' && combat.kills === 5 &&
+    events.complete !== null && events.start.length === 2 && events.clear.length === 2);
+  check('waves/system: combat over → the bar drops (no live ships, no run)', combat.active === false);
+
+  // The NAMED script (the shape the quests reference) + cancel.
+  const run2 = combat.startWaves('probe', { onCancel: () => events.cancel++ });
+  check('waves/system: the named "probe" script starts (lead in flight)',
+    run2 !== null && combat.waveStatus().state === 'lead' && combat.active === true);
+  combat.update(t + 1000, 16);
+  check('waves/system: nothing deploys during the lead',
+    combat.enemies.filter((e) => e.wave && !e.dead).length === 0);
+  combat.update(t + 3200, 16);
+  const probe = combat.enemies.filter((e) => e.wave && !e.dead);
+  check('waves/system: the lead elapses → "probe" deploys (fixed, 3 base raiders)',
+    probe.length === 3 && probe.every((e) => e.maxHull === 60));
+  combat.cancelWaves(true);
+  check('waves/system: cancel fires the event + pulls the run ships out',
+    events.cancel === 1 && combat.enemies.every((e) => !e.wave));
+  combat.destroy();
+  check('waves/system: destroy clears the run', combat.waveRun === null);
+}
+
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------ done
 
 console.log(failures === 0 ? '\ncombat rules: all checks passed' : `\n${failures} check(s) FAILED`);
diff --git a/js/combat/CombatScene.js b/js/combat/CombatScene.js
index b713393..376001c 100644
--- a/js/combat/CombatScene.js
+++ b/js/combat/CombatScene.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { fontStack, themeColor } from '../utils/Theme.js';
 const FONT_FALLBACK = "'Segoe UI', 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif";
 import { Ship } from '../entities/Ship.js';
 import { EnemyShip } from './EnemyShip.js';
+import { enemySheetList } from './EnemyTypes.js';
 import { Bullet } from './Bullet.js';
 import { Fx, FX_COLORS } from './Fx.js';
 import { StarDrift } from './StarDrift.js';
@@ -66,13 +67,12 @@ export class CombatScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       });
     }
 
-    // The enemy sheet (data/combat.json → enemy.texture).
-    const enemyTex = cfg.enemy?.texture ?? '';
-    if (enemyTex && !this.textures.exists(EnemyShip.TEXTURE_KEY)) {
-      this.load.spritesheet(EnemyShip.TEXTURE_KEY, enemyTex, {
-        frameWidth: cfg.enemy?.frameWidth ?? 128,
-        frameHeight: cfg.enemy?.frameHeight ?? 128,
-      });
+    // The enemy sheets (data/combat.json → enemy.texture + the enemyTypes'
+    // own textures — EnemyTypes.enemySheetList is the seam, one key per
+    // source file, EnemyShip.textureKey).
+    for (const { src, frameWidth, frameHeight } of enemySheetList()) {
+      if (this.textures.exists(EnemyShip.textureKey(src))) continue;
+      this.load.spritesheet(EnemyShip.textureKey(src), src, { frameWidth, frameHeight });
     }
 
     // The combat voices (js/combat/CombatSfx.js — the shared event→sound
@@ -368,8 +368,9 @@ export class CombatScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     const player = this.playerDead ? null : this.ship;
     for (const e of this.enemies) {
       if (e.dead) {
-        // Respawn keeps the range stocked while tuning (enemy.respawn).
-        if (config.get('combat.enemy.respawn', true) && time >= e.respawnAt) this.reviveEnemy(e);
+        // Respawn keeps the range stocked while tuning (the craft's own
+        // type config — the base enemy here; wave ships never respawn).
+        if (e.respawn !== false && time >= e.respawnAt) this.reviveEnemy(e);
         continue;
       }
       const wantsFire = e.update(time, delta, player);
@@ -406,7 +407,7 @@ export class CombatScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       e.body.velocity.x = 0;
       e.body.velocity.y = 0;
     }
-    e.respawnAt = this.time.now + (Number(config.get('combat.enemy.respawnDelay', 2.5)) || 0) * 1000;
+    e.respawnAt = this.time.now + (e.respawnDelayMs ?? 0);
   }
 
   reviveEnemy(e) {
@@ -566,13 +567,13 @@ export class CombatScene extends Phaser.Scene {
 
     const t = this.time.now;
     if (t >= this.ramUntil) {
-      this.ramUntil = t + (Number(config.get('combat.enemy.ramGrace', 0.8)) || 0.8) * 1000;
+      this.ramUntil = t + (b.ramGraceMs ?? 800);
       const midX = (a.x + b.x) / 2;
       const midY = (a.y + b.y) / 2;
       this.fx.flash(midX, midY, 0xffffff, 46, 160);
       const preShields = b.shields;
-      const ramSelf = Number(config.get('combat.enemy.ramDamageSelf', 22)) || 0;
-      this.damagePlayer(Number(config.get('combat.enemy.ramDamage', 10)) || 0); // impact + shield/hull
+      const ramSelf = b.ramDamageSelf ?? 0;
+      this.damagePlayer(b.ramDamage ?? 0); // impact + shield/hull
       this.fx.damage(b.x, b.y, ramSelf, preShields > 0 ? 'shield' : 'hull');
       combatSfxEnemyHit(this, preShields, ramSelf);
       const killed = b.damage(ramSelf);
diff --git a/js/combat/CombatSystem.js b/js/combat/CombatSystem.js
index 6273755..6957f76 100644
--- a/js/combat/CombatSystem.js
+++ b/js/combat/CombatSystem.js
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 import { config } from '../config/Config.js';
 import { EnemyShip } from './EnemyShip.js';
+import { enemyTypeConfig } from './EnemyTypes.js';
 import { Bullet } from './Bullet.js';
 import { Fx, FX_COLORS } from './Fx.js';
 import { applyDamage, pickTarget } from './Combat.js';
 import { combatSfx, combatSfxEnemyHit } from './CombatSfx.js';
+import { normalizeWaves, WaveRunner } from './Waves.js';
 
 const TAU = Math.PI * 2;
 
@@ -23,6 +25,13 @@ const TAU = Math.PI * 2;
  *                        the cannon tracks; the cannon's numbers are → player.weapon)
  *   - the collision pass (swept bullet hits + rams — the main game's
  *                        hand-rolled circle-check style, no arcade colliders)
+ *   - the WAVE RUNS      (Waves.js state machine — quest-step combat: an
+ *                        ordered list of 'rolling' / 'fixed' waves, each a
+ *                        roster of enemyTypes with a total force. startWaves
+ *                        runs the script — lead, wave, gap, wave, … — and
+ *                        the kills feed the rolling replacements. The QUEST
+ *                        HOOK THAT FIRES startWaves LANDS LATER; until then
+ *                        the console drives it (GameScene → __ORBIT_COMBAT__.waves))
  *
  * The scene supplies the player ship (a Ship, or anything with
  * .x/.y/.radius/.body/.stop()/.setVisible()) and calls
@@ -60,6 +69,10 @@ export class CombatSystem {
     this.bullets = [];
     this.kills = 0;
 
+    // The wave run in flight (Waves.js — null when no script is running).
+    this.waveRun = null;
+    this._spawnSerial = 0; // the orbit-dir alternation counter (pack + waves)
+
     // The player's life (playerShip.* — both contexts share it).
     const p = config.section('combat.playerShip', {});
     this.maxHull = Math.max(1, Number(p.hull) || 100);
@@ -103,8 +116,14 @@ export class CombatSystem {
 
   // ------------------------------------------------------------- the pack
 
-  /** Combat is live when a hostile is up, or one is on its reform clock. */
+  /**
+   * Combat is live when a hostile is up (or one is on its reform clock),
+   * or a WAVE RUN is in flight (the lead + the gaps between waves keep the
+   * combat bar up — the fight is on even when the sky is clear).
+   */
   get active() {
+    const run = this.waveRun;
+    if (run && run.state !== 'done' && run.state !== 'cancelled') return true;
     return this.enemies.some(
       (e) => !e.dead || (e._respawnPending && e.respawnAt > 0),
     );
@@ -118,24 +137,48 @@ export class CombatSystem {
     if (this.onActiveChange) this.onActiveChange(a);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The distance from the ship at which a fresh hostile materializes:
+   * OFF-SCREEN, so it flies into view and attacks instead of popping in.
+   * That is the furthest of the spawn band (game.spawnRadius) and the
+   * camera's visible edge + the fly-in lead (game.spawnLead px past the
+   * worldView — already in world px, zoom included). A scene without a
+   * camera (the headless tests) gets the plain band.
+   */
+  _offscreenRadius() {
+    const cam = this.scene?.cameras?.main;
+    const lead = Math.max(0, Number(config.get('game.spawnLead', 140)) || 0);
+    if (cam && cam.worldView && cam.worldView.width > 0) {
+      const halfDiag = Math.hypot(cam.worldView.width, cam.worldView.height) / 2;
+      return Math.max(this.spawnRadius, halfDiag + lead);
+    }
+    return this.spawnRadius;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Spawn the starting pack in a ring around (cx, cy) — the ?combat boot
-   * calls this with the ship's position "when the player starts".
+   * calls this with the ship's position "when the player starts". The ring
+   * sits OFF-SCREEN (_offscreenRadius): the pack streams in on its own
+   * chase AI instead of materializing on the player.
    * @returns {EnemyShip[]} the fresh hostiles
    */
   spawnPack(cx, cy) {
     const out = [];
     for (let i = 0; i < this.spawnCount; i++) {
       const a = (i / Math.max(1, this.spawnCount)) * TAU + (Math.random() - 0.5) * 0.6;
-      const r = this.spawnRadius * (0.9 + Math.random() * 0.2);
+      const r = this._offscreenRadius() * (0.9 + Math.random() * 0.2);
       out.push(this.spawnEnemy(cx + Math.cos(a) * r, cy + Math.sin(a) * r, i));
     }
     return out;
   }
 
-  /** One hostile (a dev/probe spawn, or a wave). Anchors its orbit to its bearing. */
-  spawnEnemy(x, y, index) {
-    const e = new EnemyShip(this.scene, x, y, index);
+  /**
+   * One hostile (a dev/probe spawn, or a wave). Anchors its orbit to its
+   * bearing.
+   * @param {string|null} [type] the hostile type (a combat.enemyTypes id) — null = the base
+   */
+  spawnEnemy(x, y, index, type = null) {
+    const e = new EnemyShip(this.scene, x, y, index, enemyTypeConfig(type));
     e.setDepth(10);
     const px = this.ship ? this.ship.x : x;
     const py = this.ship ? this.ship.y : y;
@@ -146,6 +189,153 @@ export class CombatSystem {
     return e;
   }
 
+  // ----------------------------------------------------------------- waves
+
+  /**
+   * Start a WAVE SCRIPT — the quest-step / random-encounter combat (the
+   * quests fire this when their hook lands; for now the console drives it:
+   * window.__ORBIT_COMBAT__.waves.demo('raid')).
+   *
+   * `script` is an ordered list of waves, `{ waves: [...], lead?, gap? }`
+   * (seconds), or a NAME under combat.waves.scripts. Kinds: 'rolling' =
+   * maxConcurrent on screen at a time, each kill sending in
+   * replacePerKill more until the wave's force is spent; 'fixed' = the
+   * whole force at once, no replacements. The roster mixes the
+   * enemyTypes' ids by weight (type/count is the single-type shorthand).
+   *
+   * Wave ships are RUN-OWNED: they never self-respawn (the force gets
+   * spent — that's the point), and each kill feeds the runner's rolling
+   * replacements (killEnemy). The bar stays up from the lead through the
+   * last kill. Callbacks (opts): onWaveStart(index, wave), onWaveClear
+   * (index, wave), onComplete(status) — the quest hook's 'combat over'
+   * seam — and onCancel().
+   *
+   * @param {Array|object|string} script the wave script (data/combat.json → waves)
+   * @param {object} [opts] the callbacks (above)
+   * @returns {object|null} the run (query via waveStatus()) — null on a bad script
+   */
+  startWaves(script, opts = {}) {
+    const norm = normalizeWaves(script);
+    if (!norm.ok) {
+      if (typeof console !== 'undefined') console.warn(`[orbit] waves: ${norm.error}`);
+      return null;
+    }
+    this.cancelWaves(true); // a new fight replaces the old one (its ships go down)
+    const cb = (f) => (typeof f === 'function' ? f : null);
+    this.waveRun = {
+      runner: new WaveRunner(norm),
+      state: 'lead',
+      nextAt: null, // set on the first tick (the clock is the scene's update time)
+      lead: norm.lead,
+      onWaveStart: cb(opts.onWaveStart),
+      onWaveClear: cb(opts.onWaveClear),
+      onComplete: cb(opts.onComplete),
+      onCancel: cb(opts.onCancel),
+    };
+    this._setActive(); // the bar is up from the lead (the warning window)
+    return this.waveRun;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Cancel the run in flight. `destroy` also pulls the wave's ships out of
+   * the world (they just go — no kill FX, no feed entry).
+   * @param {boolean} [destroy] destroy the run's ships too
+   * @returns {object|null} the run that was cancelled (null when none)
+   */
+  cancelWaves(destroy = false) {
+    const run = this.waveRun;
+    if (run && run.state !== 'done' && run.state !== 'cancelled') {
+      run.state = 'cancelled';
+      if (run.onCancel) run.onCancel();
+    }
+    if (destroy) {
+      for (const e of this.enemies) {
+        if (e.wave && !e.destroyed) e.destroy();
+      }
+      this.enemies = this.enemies.filter((e) => !e.wave);
+    }
+    this._setActive();
+    return run;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * A status snapshot (the console's waves.status() / the quest hook's UI).
+   * Null when no run. `state` is the RUN's state (lead/gap/live/done/
+   * cancelled) — the runner's own view is lead/live, the run carries the
+   * clocks + the terminal states.
+   */
+  waveStatus() {
+    const run = this.waveRun;
+    if (!run) return null;
+    const s = run.runner.status();
+    const now = this._now();
+    return {
+      ...s,
+      state: run.state,
+      nextIn: run.nextAt != null ? Math.max(0, run.nextAt - now) / 1000 : null,
+    };
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * One wave ship, off-screen around the ship (_offscreenRadius's band —
+   * the same off-screen materialization as the ?combat pack), bearing in
+   * on its own chase AI.
+   * @param {string} typeId the hostile type to send (a combat.enemyTypes id)
+   * @returns {EnemyShip} the fresh hostile (tagged `wave`)
+   */
+  _spawnWaveEnemy(typeId) {
+    const px = this.ship ? this.ship.x : 0;
+    const py = this.ship ? this.ship.y : 0;
+    const a = Math.random() * TAU;
+    const r = this._offscreenRadius() * (0.9 + Math.random() * 0.2);
+    const e = this.spawnEnemy(px + Math.cos(a) * r, py + Math.sin(a) * r, this._spawnSerial++, typeId);
+    e.wave = true; // owned by the run: no self-respawn, the kill feeds the runner
+    return e;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The run's state step (the tail of update()): lead/gap → deploy once
+   * the clock has run, live → hand a cleared wave over (the gap, or the
+   * end of the script). The kills already landed in killEnemy (the rolling
+   * replacements spawn there).
+   * @param {number} time the scene clock (ms)
+   */
+  _waveTick(time) {
+    const run = this.waveRun;
+    if (!run || run.state === 'done' || run.state === 'cancelled') return;
+    const runner = run.runner;
+
+    // The current wave's force is spent → the gap (or the end of the run).
+    if (run.state === 'live' && runner.waveCleared()) {
+      if (run.onWaveClear) run.onWaveClear(runner.index, runner.current, this);
+      if (runner.hasNext) {
+        run.state = 'gap';
+        run.nextAt = time + runner.waves[runner.index + 1].gapMs;
+      } else {
+        run.state = 'done';
+        if (run.onComplete) run.onComplete(runner.status(), this);
+      }
+      this._setActive();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // The clocks: the lead before wave 1, the gap between waves.
+    if (run.state === 'lead' || run.state === 'gap') {
+      if (run.nextAt == null) run.nextAt = time + run.lead;
+      if (time < run.nextAt) return;
+      const spawns = run.state === 'lead' ? runner.begin() : runner.next();
+      if (!spawns) {
+        run.state = 'done';
+        if (run.onComplete) run.onComplete(runner.status(), this);
+        this._setActive();
+        return;
+      }
+      for (const t of spawns) this._spawnWaveEnemy(t);
+      run.state = 'live';
+      if (run.onWaveStart) run.onWaveStart(runner.index, runner.current, this);
+    }
+  }
+
   // ------------------------------------------------------------ the loop
 
   /**
@@ -213,6 +403,9 @@ export class CombatSystem {
     }
 
     this.fx.update(delta);
+
+    // 6) The WAVE RUN (Waves.js): lead/gap clocks, the cleared handoff.
+    this._waveTick(time);
   }
 
   /** The nearest live hostile to (x, y), or null (the shared pickTarget rule). */
@@ -391,7 +584,8 @@ export class CombatSystem {
 
   /**
    * A ship-ship collision: push apart, exchange normal velocity (bounce),
-   * and deal ram damage to BOTH (grace-limited — enemy.ram*).
+   * and deal ram damage to BOTH (grace-limited — the hostile's own type
+   * config: combat.enemy.ram* or the type's override).
    */
   ramPair(a, b) {
     const dx = b.x - a.x;
@@ -425,13 +619,13 @@ export class CombatSystem {
 
     const t = this._now();
     if (t >= this.ramUntil) {
-      this.ramUntil = t + (Number(config.get('combat.enemy.ramGrace', 0.8)) || 0.8) * 1000;
+      this.ramUntil = t + (b.ramGraceMs ?? 800);
       const midX = (a.x + b.x) / 2;
       const midY = (a.y + b.y) / 2;
       this.fx.flash(midX, midY, '#ffffff', 46, 160);
       const preShields = b.shields;
-      const ramSelf = Number(config.get('combat.enemy.ramDamageSelf', 22)) || 0;
-      this.damagePlayer(Number(config.get('combat.enemy.ramDamage', 10)) || 0); // impact + shield/hull
+      const ramSelf = b.ramDamageSelf ?? 0;
+      this.damagePlayer(b.ramDamage ?? 0); // impact + shield/hull
       this.fx.damage(b.x, b.y, ramSelf, preShields > 0 ? 'shield' : 'hull');
       combatSfxEnemyHit(this.scene, preShields, ramSelf);
       const killed = b.damage(ramSelf);
@@ -492,9 +686,11 @@ export class CombatSystem {
   }
 
   /**
-   * A hostile went down: the kill FX + bookkeeping, and (when armed) the
-   * reform clock. Idempotent via _killFx — damage() flips e.dead first,
-   * so the dead flag can't be the "already counted" guard.
+   * A hostile went down: the kill FX + bookkeeping. WAVE SHIPS get spent
+   * (their kill feeds the runner's rolling replacements — no respawn
+   * clock); the rest keep their type's reform clock (combat.enemy.respawn
+   * / the type's override). Idempotent via _killFx — damage() flips
+   * e.dead first, so the dead flag can't be the "already counted" guard.
    */
   killEnemy(e, time) {
     if (e._killFx) return;
@@ -507,9 +703,15 @@ export class CombatSystem {
       e.body.velocity.x = 0;
       e.body.velocity.y = 0;
     }
-    const respawn = config.get('combat.enemy.respawn', true) !== false;
+    const run = this.waveRun;
+    const inWave = e.wave === true && run && run.state === 'live';
+    const respawn = !inWave && e.respawn !== false;
     e._respawnPending = respawn;
-    e.respawnAt = time + (Number(config.get('combat.enemy.respawnDelay', 2.5)) || 0) * 1000;
+    e.respawnAt = respawn ? time + (e.respawnDelayMs ?? 0) : 0;
+    if (inWave) {
+      // The rolling replacement (a fixed wave sends nothing in).
+      for (const t of run.runner.onKill()) this._spawnWaveEnemy(t);
+    }
     if (this.onKill) this.onKill(e);
     this._setActive();
   }
@@ -560,6 +762,7 @@ export class CombatSystem {
 
   /** Tear the combat down (scene destroy). */
   destroy() {
+    this.waveRun = null;
     for (const e of this.enemies) e.destroy();
     for (const b of this.bullets) if (!b.dead) b.destroy();
     this.enemies = [];
diff --git a/js/combat/EnemyShip.js b/js/combat/EnemyShip.js
index da1ed5c..f13e91a 100644
--- a/js/combat/EnemyShip.js
+++ b/js/combat/EnemyShip.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import Phaser from '../vendor/phaser.js';
-import { config } from '../config/Config.js';
 import { toColor } from '../utils/Color.js';
+import { enemyTypeConfig } from './EnemyTypes.js';
 import { applyDamage, headingOf, orbitStep } from './Combat.js';
 
 const FALLBACK_W = 76; // the procedural wedge (it faces east)
@@ -17,15 +17,30 @@ const FALLBACK_H = 46;
  * `frame` picks which one (frame 0 = the red triple-boost fighter, art
  * facing north, filling its frame). The art's facing works exactly like
  * the player's (js/entities/Ship.js): a constant render offset
- * (this.artOffset) so heading math stays world-up = -π/2. If the sheet
- * isn't configured or didn't load, the built-in wedge is drawn instead
- * (it faces east, offset 0).
+ * (this.artOffset) so heading math stays world-up = -π/2. A type may ride
+ * the same sheet on a different `frame`, or bring its own `texture`
+ * (EnemyTypes.enemySheetList is the preload seam; one texture key per
+ * source file). If the sheet isn't configured or didn't load, the
+ * built-in wedge is drawn instead (it faces east, offset 0).
  *
  * Armor: { shields, hull } per js/combat/Combat.js (shields absorb
  * first). damage() applies a hit; the scene owns the FX + respawn.
+ *
+ * Config: the constructor takes the craft's FULL config (an
+ * EnemyTypes.enemyTypeConfig merge — the base `combat.enemy` craft, or a
+ * named type's overrides merged onto it). Null = the base type. The
+ * per-type numbers (armor, chase feel, weapon, ram, respawn) all read
+ * off THAT object — the wave runner's ships and the sandbox's pack share
+ * one code path, only the config differs.
  */
 export class EnemyShip extends Phaser.Physics.Arcade.Sprite {
-  static TEXTURE_KEY = '__enemy_ship';
+  /** The texture key a source file lands under (the no-texture wedge's key is src-less). */
+  static FALLBACK_KEY = '__enemy_ship_fallback';
+  static textureKey(src) {
+    if (typeof src !== 'string' || src === '') return EnemyShip.FALLBACK_KEY;
+    const name = src.split('/').pop().replace(/\.[^.]+$/, ''); // 'ships-enemy'
+    return `__enemy_ship_${name}`;
+  }
 
   /** World angle (rad) for each direction the sheet art may face. */
   static FACING_ANGLE = {
@@ -36,12 +51,14 @@ export class EnemyShip extends Phaser.Physics.Arcade.Sprite {
   };
 
   /**
-   * Ensure a texture exists under TEXTURE_KEY. The spritesheet (loaded
-   * by CombatScene.preload / GameScene.preload) wins; otherwise the
-   * built-in wedge — a blunt V-fin raider, clearly NOT the player dart.
+   * Ensure a texture exists under the key for `src`. The spritesheet
+   * (loaded by CombatScene.preload / GameScene.preload from
+   * EnemyTypes.enemySheetList) wins; otherwise the built-in wedge — a
+   * blunt V-fin raider, clearly NOT the player dart.
    */
-  static ensureTexture(scene) {
-    if (scene.textures.exists(EnemyShip.TEXTURE_KEY)) return;
+  static ensureTexture(scene, src) {
+    const key = EnemyShip.textureKey(src);
+    if (scene.textures.exists(key)) return;
 
     const w = FALLBACK_W;
     const h = FALLBACK_H;
@@ -58,7 +75,7 @@ export class EnemyShip extends Phaser.Physics.Arcade.Sprite {
     g.fillPath();
     g.fillStyle(trim, 1);
     g.fillCircle(Math.round(w - 20), h / 2, 4); // cockpit
-    g.generateTexture(EnemyShip.TEXTURE_KEY, w, h);
+    g.generateTexture(key, w, h);
     g.destroy();
   }
 
@@ -67,11 +84,16 @@ export class EnemyShip extends Phaser.Physics.Arcade.Sprite {
    * @param {number} x spawn
    * @param {number} y spawn
    * @param {number} index the craft's slot in the pack (orbit direction alternates)
+   * @param {object} [cfg] the craft's FULL enemy config (EnemyTypes.enemyTypeConfig's
+   *   merge — the base `combat.enemy` craft or a named type's). Null = the base.
    */
-  constructor(scene, x, y, index) {
-    const hasSheet = scene.textures.exists(EnemyShip.TEXTURE_KEY);
-    EnemyShip.ensureTexture(scene);
-    super(scene, x, y, EnemyShip.TEXTURE_KEY, config.get('combat.enemy.frame', 0));
+  constructor(scene, x, y, index, cfg = null) {
+    const c = cfg && typeof cfg === 'object' ? cfg : enemyTypeConfig();
+    const src = typeof c.texture === 'string' ? c.texture : '';
+    const key = EnemyShip.textureKey(src);
+    const hasSheet = src !== '' && scene.textures.exists(key);
+    if (!hasSheet) EnemyShip.ensureTexture(scene, src);
+    super(scene, x, y, key, Number(c.frame) || 0);
 
     scene.add.existing(this);
     scene.physics.add.existing(this);
@@ -82,38 +104,44 @@ export class EnemyShip extends Phaser.Physics.Arcade.Sprite {
 
     // World size + render scale (the same contract as Ship: size × the
     // art's footprint = the hull's world length).
-    this.size = Math.max(4, config.get('combat.enemy.size', 54));
-    const frameWidth = hasSheet
-      ? Math.max(1, config.get('combat.enemy.frameWidth', 128))
-      : FALLBACK_W;
+    this.size = Math.max(4, Number(c.size) || 54);
+    const frameWidth = hasSheet ? Math.max(1, Number(c.frameWidth) || 128) : FALLBACK_W;
     this.setScale(this.size / frameWidth);
-    const facing = EnemyShip.FACING_ANGLE[config.get('combat.enemy.artFacing', 'east')] ?? 0;
+    const facing = EnemyShip.FACING_ANGLE[c.artFacing ?? 'east'] ?? 0;
     this.artOffset = hasSheet ? -facing : 0;
 
-    // A circle body (world px — data/combat.json → enemy.hitRadius):
-    // the scene's collision pass uses it for rams + bullets.
-    this.hitRadius = Math.max(4, config.get('combat.enemy.hitRadius', 20));
+    // A circle body (world px — the type's hitRadius): the scene's
+    // collision pass uses it for rams + bullets.
+    this.hitRadius = Math.max(4, Number(c.hitRadius) || 20);
     const body = this.body;
     body.setCircle(this.hitRadius / this.scale); // texture-space radius (auto-scales)
     body.setAllowGravity(false);
 
     // Armor (js/combat/Combat.js rule: shields first, then hull).
-    this.maxHull = Math.max(1, config.get('combat.enemy.hull', 60));
-    this.maxShields = Math.max(0, config.get('combat.enemy.shields', 0));
+    this.maxHull = Math.max(1, Number(c.hull) || 60);
+    this.maxShields = Math.max(0, Number(c.shields) || 0);
     this.hull = this.maxHull;
     this.shields = this.maxShields;
     this.dead = false;
 
-    // Chase feel (data/combat.json → enemy).
-    this.speed = Math.max(0, config.get('combat.enemy.speed', 165));
-    this.turn = Math.max(0.1, config.get('combat.enemy.turn', 3.2));
-    this.orbitRadius = Math.max(40, config.get('combat.enemy.orbitRadius', 300));
-    this.orbitSpeed = config.get('combat.enemy.orbitSpeed', 0.6);
+    // Chase feel (the type's numbers).
+    this.speed = Math.max(0, Number(c.speed) ?? 165);
+    this.turn = Math.max(0.1, Number(c.turn) ?? 3.2);
+    this.orbitRadius = Math.max(40, Number(c.orbitRadius) ?? 300);
+    this.orbitSpeed = Number(c.orbitSpeed) ?? 0.6;
 
-    // Lance (data/combat.json → enemy.weapon).
-    this.wpn = config.section('combat.enemy.weapon', {});
+    // Lance (the type's weapon.*).
+    this.wpn = c.weapon && typeof c.weapon === 'object' ? c.weapon : {};
     this.nextFireAt = 0; // ms — the scene grants a short grace on spawn
 
+    // Ram + respawn (per-type — CombatSystem reads them off the ship;
+    // the wave runner's ships never take the respawn clock).
+    this.ramDamage = Number(c.ramDamage) ?? 10;
+    this.ramDamageSelf = Number(c.ramDamageSelf) ?? 22;
+    this.ramGraceMs = (Number(c.ramGrace) ?? 0.8) * 1000;
+    this.respawn = c.respawn !== false;
+    this.respawnDelayMs = (Number(c.respawnDelay) ?? 2.5) * 1000;
+
     // The last player position (orbiting it while the player is down).
     this.lastPx = x;
     this.lastPy = y;
diff --git a/js/combat/EnemyTypes.js b/js/combat/EnemyTypes.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a936808
--- /dev/null
+++ b/js/combat/EnemyTypes.js
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+/**
+ * The ENEMY TYPE registry — the pure half of wave-composable hostiles
+ * (js/combat/Waves.js builds the waves, js/combat/CombatSystem.js spawns
+ * them). No Phaser, no scene: it reads the config and returns data, so it
+ * runs in bare Node (dev/combat.test.mjs exercises exactly this).
+ *
+ * The base craft is data/combat.json → enemy (the sandbox's hostile — the
+ * red triple-boost fighter). `enemyTypes` names VARIANTS for wave rosters:
+ * each entry is a PARTIAL config deep-merged onto the base — set only what
+ * differs (hull/shields, the chase feel, weapon.*, ram*, or
+ * texture/frame for a different sheet — the base's numbers are the
+ * fallback for every field a type doesn't set).
+ *
+ *   combat.enemy       = the base type (always available, unnamed)
+ *   combat.enemyTypes  = { "<id>": { overrides } }
+ *
+ * A wave's roster (Waves.js) names these ids; an unknown id falls back to
+ * the base craft (with a console warning — a roster typo should be
+ * visible, not fatal).
+ */
+import { config } from '../config/Config.js';
+
+const isPlain = (v) => v != null && typeof v === 'object' && !Array.isArray(v);
+
+/**
+ * Deep-merge two plain objects: `over` wins, nested plain objects merge,
+ * arrays/primitives replace. Neither input is mutated (they may be the
+ * config's live sections — the merge result is a fresh object).
+ *
+ * @param {object} base the base config (e.g. combat.enemy)
+ * @param {object} over the overrides (e.g. combat.enemyTypes[id])
+ * @returns {object} the merged config
+ */
+export function deepMerge(base, over) {
+  const out = { ...(base ?? {}) };
+  if (isPlain(over)) {
+    for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(over)) {
+      if (isPlain(v) && isPlain(out[k])) out[k] = deepMerge(out[k], v);
+      else if (v !== undefined) out[k] = v;
+    }
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+/** The named type ids (combat.enemyTypes, minus the `_` bookkeeping keys). */
+export function enemyTypeIds() {
+  const t = config.section('combat.enemyTypes', {});
+  return Object.keys(t).filter((k) => !k.startsWith('_') && isPlain(t[k]));
+}
+
+/**
+ * The FULL config for a hostile type: the base (combat.enemy) deep-merged
+ * with the type's overrides (combat.enemyTypes[id]).
+ *
+ * @param {string|null} [typeId] null/'' = the base craft; a named id =
+ *   base + that type's overrides; an unknown id = the base (warned once
+ *   per call — a roster typo, not a crash).
+ * @returns {object} the config an EnemyShip builds from
+ */
+export function enemyTypeConfig(typeId = null) {
+  const base = config.section('combat.enemy', {});
+  if (typeId == null || typeId === '') return base;
+  const t = config.section('combat.enemyTypes', {});
+  const over = t[typeId];
+  if (!isPlain(over)) {
+    if (typeof console !== 'undefined') {
+      console.warn(`[orbit] enemyTypes: unknown type "${typeId}" — the base craft flies instead`);
+    }
+    return base;
+  }
+  return deepMerge(base, over);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Every DISTINCT spritesheet the hostiles use (the base's texture + each
+ * named type's, deduped, base first) — the preload seam: a scene loads
+ * exactly this list (js/scenes/GameScene.js, js/combat/CombatScene.js).
+ * Types without their own texture ride the base sheet (a different
+ * `frame` picks their art).
+ *
+ * @returns {Array<{src: string, frameWidth: number, frameHeight: number}>}
+ */
+export function enemySheetList() {
+  const out = [];
+  const seen = new Set();
+  const add = (c) => {
+    const src = isPlain(c) ? c.texture : null;
+    if (typeof src !== 'string' || src === '' || seen.has(src)) return;
+    seen.add(src);
+    out.push({
+      src,
+      frameWidth: Math.max(1, Number(c.frameWidth) || 128),
+      frameHeight: Math.max(1, Number(c.frameHeight) || 128),
+    });
+  };
+  add(config.section('combat.enemy', {}));
+  for (const id of enemyTypeIds()) add(enemyTypeConfig(id));
+  return out;
+}
diff --git a/js/combat/Waves.js b/js/combat/Waves.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d86862
--- /dev/null
+++ b/js/combat/Waves.js
@@ -0,0 +1,303 @@
+/**
+ * WAVE SCRIPTS — the pure state machine behind quest-driven combat (and
+ * later, random encounters). A script is an ordered list of waves; this
+ * module knows nothing of Phaser or scenes — it hands back "spawn these
+ * type ids NOW" and js/combat/CombatSystem.js places them in the world
+ * (a ring around the ship). Runs in bare Node (dev/combat.test.mjs).
+ *
+ * Wave kinds (data/combat.json → waves):
+ *   'rolling' — maxConcurrent (X) on screen at a time; every kill sends in
+ *               replacePerKill (Y) more until the wave's force is spent.
+ *   'fixed'   — the whole force at once, no replacements until exhausted.
+ *
+ * A wave's composition: `roster` (type → weight, ids from
+ * combat.enemyTypes) and `total` (the units deployed; default = the
+ * roster's weight sum — so {raider: 2, bomber: 1} + total 6 is a 2:1 mix
+ * of six hostiles). `type` + `count` is the single-type shorthand.
+ *
+ * The runner's contract (CombatSystem drives it from update()):
+ *   begin()       → type ids to spawn (wave 1, once the lead elapses)
+ *   onKill()      → type ids to spawn (the rolling replacements)
+ *   waveCleared() → the current wave's force is spent
+ *   next()        → type ids to spawn (the next wave — null when done)
+ *
+ * The runner owns no clock: the caller passes "now" and decides when the
+ * lead (norm.lead ms) / the gap (a wave's gapMs) has elapsed.
+ */
+
+import { config } from '../config/Config.js';
+
+const KINDS = new Set(['rolling', 'fixed']);
+const isPlain = (v) => v != null && typeof v === 'object' && !Array.isArray(v);
+
+const num = (v, fallback) => {
+  const n = Number(v);
+  return Number.isFinite(n) ? n : fallback;
+};
+
+/**
+ * The wave section's defaults (data/combat.json → waves). Seconds → ms.
+ * @returns {{maxConcurrent: number, replacePerKill: number, lead: number, gap: number}}
+ */
+export function waveDefaults() {
+  const w = config.section('combat.waves', {});
+  const d = w.defaults ?? {};
+  return {
+    maxConcurrent: Math.max(1, num(d.maxConcurrent, 3)),
+    replacePerKill: Math.max(0, num(d.replacePerKill, 1)),
+    lead: Math.max(0, num(w.lead, 1.5)) * 1000,
+    gap: Math.max(0, num(w.gap, 2.0)) * 1000,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * One wave's fields (defaults from the wave section; a per-wave `gap`
+ * in SECONDS overrides the script gap).
+ * @returns {object|null} the normalized wave — null when the shape is bad
+ */
+function normalizeWave(w, defs, gapSec) {
+  if (!isPlain(w)) return null;
+  const kind = w.kind ?? 'rolling';
+  if (!KINDS.has(kind)) return null;
+
+  // The composition: the roster's weights (+ the type/count shorthand).
+  const roster = {};
+  if (isPlain(w.roster)) {
+    for (const [t, n] of Object.entries(w.roster)) {
+      if (typeof t !== 'string' || t === '') continue;
+      const weight = Number(n);
+      if (Number.isFinite(weight) && weight > 0) roster[t] = (roster[t] ?? 0) + weight;
+    }
+  }
+  if (w.type != null) {
+    const t = String(w.type);
+    roster[t] = (roster[t] ?? 0) + Math.max(0, num(w.count, 1));
+  }
+  if (Object.keys(roster).length === 0) return null; // nothing to send
+
+  // The force: the units deployed (default = the weight sum).
+  const weightSum = Object.values(roster).reduce((a, b) => a + b, 0);
+  const total = Math.floor(Math.max(1, num(w.total ?? w.totalForce, weightSum)));
+  if (total < 1) return null;
+
+  return {
+    kind,
+    roster,
+    total,
+    maxConcurrent: Math.max(1, num(w.maxConcurrent, defs.maxConcurrent)),
+    replacePerKill: Math.max(0, num(w.replacePerKill, defs.replacePerKill)),
+    gapMs: Math.max(0, num(w.gap, gapSec)) * 1000,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Normalize a wave script for the runner.
+ *
+ * `script` is an ordered list of waves, or `{ waves: [...], lead?, gap? }`
+ * (lead/gap in seconds), or a NAME under combat.waves.scripts (the shape
+ * the quests reference when their hook lands).
+ *
+ * @param {Array|object|string} script the script (above)
+ * @param {object} [defs] waveDefaults() — injectable for tests
+ * @returns {{ok: true, waves: object[], lead: number, gap: number} | {ok: false, error: string}}
+ *   lead/gap in ms; each wave carries its own gapMs (the delay BEFORE it).
+ */
+export function normalizeWaves(script, defs = waveDefaults()) {
+  let waves;
+  let leadSec;
+  let gapSec;
+  if (typeof script === 'string') {
+    const named = config.section('combat.waves.scripts', {})[script];
+    if (!Array.isArray(named)) {
+      return { ok: false, error: `no wave script named "${script}" (combat.waves.scripts)` };
+    }
+    waves = named;
+  } else if (isPlain(script)) {
+    waves = script.waves;
+    leadSec = script.lead;
+    gapSec = script.gap;
+  } else {
+    waves = script;
+  }
+  if (!Array.isArray(waves) || waves.length === 0) {
+    return { ok: false, error: 'a wave script is a non-empty ordered list of waves' };
+  }
+
+  gapSec = num(gapSec, defs.gap / 1000);
+  const out = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < waves.length; i++) {
+    const w = normalizeWave(waves[i], defs, gapSec);
+    if (!w) {
+      return {
+        ok: false,
+        error: `wave ${i + 1}: needs a kind (rolling/fixed) and a roster ({type: weight}) or the type/count shorthand`,
+      };
+    }
+    out.push(w);
+  }
+  return {
+    ok: true,
+    waves: out,
+    lead: Math.max(0, num(leadSec, defs.lead / 1000)) * 1000,
+    gap: Math.max(0, gapSec) * 1000,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Draw a wave's force from its roster: `total` weighted picks (with
+ * replacement) over the type weights — the spawn order the runner deploys.
+ * Deterministic given the same `rng` (tests seed one; the game uses
+ * Math.random).
+ *
+ * @param {{total: number, roster: object}} wave a normalized wave
+ * @param {() => number} [rng] random source in [0, 1)
+ * @returns {string[]} the type ids (length = wave.total)
+ */
+export function resolveRoster(wave, rng = Math.random) {
+  const entries = Object.entries(wave.roster ?? {}).filter(
+    ([t, n]) => typeof t === 'string' && t !== '' && num(n, 0) > 0,
+  );
+  const sum = entries.reduce((a, [, n]) => a + num(n, 0), 0);
+  const total = Math.max(0, Math.floor(num(wave.total, 0)));
+  if (entries.length === 0 || total === 0) return [];
+  const draw = typeof rng === 'function' ? rng : Math.random;
+  const picks = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < total; i++) {
+    let r = draw() * sum;
+    let pick = entries[0][0];
+    for (const [t, n] of entries) {
+      r -= num(n, 0);
+      if (r <= 0) {
+        pick = t;
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+    picks.push(pick);
+  }
+  return picks;
+}
+
+/**
+ * One run of a normalized script: the wave-by-wave state machine.
+ * Clocks belong to the caller (CombatSystem passes the scene time); this
+ * only answers "who spawns now" and "is the force spent".
+ */
+export class WaveRunner {
+  /**
+   * @param {object} norm the ok result of normalizeWaves()
+   * @param {object} [o]
+   *   resolve (wave, rng) → type ids (default resolveRoster)
+   *   rng     random source for the composition draws (tests seed it)
+   */
+  constructor(norm, { resolve = resolveRoster, rng = Math.random } = {}) {
+    this.waves = (norm?.waves ?? []).map((w) => ({
+      ...w,
+      queue: resolve(w, rng),
+      alive: 0,
+      deployed: 0,
+    }));
+    this.index = -1;
+    this.state = 'lead'; // 'lead' → 'live' → ('gap' → 'live')… → 'done'
+  }
+
+  /** How many waves the script holds. */
+  get totalWaves() {
+    return this.waves.length;
+  }
+
+  /** The current wave (its live state), or null before begin(). */
+  get current() {
+    return this.index >= 0 ? this.waves[this.index] : null;
+  }
+
+  /** True once the last wave's force is spent. */
+  get done() {
+    return this.state === 'done';
+  }
+
+  /** True while another wave follows the current one. */
+  get hasNext() {
+    return this.index + 1 < this.waves.length;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Start wave 1 (from 'lead').
+   * @returns {string[]} the type ids to spawn NOW (min(maxConcurrent, total)
+   *   for a rolling wave, the whole force for a fixed one)
+   */
+  begin() {
+    if (this.state !== 'lead' || this.waves.length === 0) return [];
+    this.index = 0;
+    this.state = 'live';
+    return this._deploy(this.waves[0]);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Start the next wave (after the caller let the gap elapse).
+   * @returns {string[]|null} the type ids to spawn — null when the script is spent
+   */
+  next() {
+    if (this.state === 'done') return null;
+    if (!this.hasNext) {
+      this.state = 'done';
+      return null;
+    }
+    this.index += 1;
+    this.state = 'live';
+    return this._deploy(this.waves[this.index]);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * A wave ship was killed (while 'live'). A rolling wave sends in its
+   * replacements here (capped by the seats and the remaining force); a
+   * fixed one sends nothing.
+   * @returns {string[]} the type ids to spawn NOW
+   */
+  onKill() {
+    if (this.state !== 'live') return [];
+    const w = this.current;
+    w.alive = Math.max(0, w.alive - 1);
+    if (w.kind !== 'rolling') return [];
+    const room = w.maxConcurrent - w.alive;
+    const n = Math.max(0, Math.min(w.replacePerKill, room, w.queue.length));
+    if (n === 0) return [];
+    w.deployed += n;
+    w.alive += n;
+    return w.queue.splice(0, n);
+  }
+
+  /** The current wave's force is spent (every unit deployed, every one down). */
+  waveCleared() {
+    const w = this.current;
+    return this.state === 'live' && !!w && w.alive === 0 && w.queue.length === 0;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * A status snapshot (the console's waves.status() / the quest hook's UI).
+   * @returns {{state: string, wave: number, waves: number, kind: string|null, alive: number, deployed: number, inQueue: number, total: number, killed: number}}
+   */
+  status() {
+    const w = this.current;
+    return {
+      state: this.state,
+      wave: Math.max(0, this.index),
+      waves: this.totalWaves,
+      kind: w?.kind ?? null,
+      alive: w?.alive ?? 0,
+      deployed: w?.deployed ?? 0,
+      inQueue: w?.queue.length ?? 0,
+      total: w?.total ?? 0,
+      killed: w ? w.total - w.alive - w.queue.length : 0,
+    };
+  }
+
+  /** Deploy the wave's opening burst (seats for rolling, all for fixed). */
+  _deploy(w) {
+    const n = w.kind === 'fixed' ? w.queue.length : Math.min(w.maxConcurrent, w.queue.length);
+    if (n === 0) return [];
+    const out = w.queue.splice(0, n);
+    w.deployed += n;
+    w.alive += n;
+    return out;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/js/scenes/GameScene.js b/js/scenes/GameScene.js
index e8337a8..82ef5b4 100644
--- a/js/scenes/GameScene.js
+++ b/js/scenes/GameScene.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import { playSfxOn, sfxPlayingOn, stopSfxOn } from '../utils/Sfx.js';
 import { gameTrackKey, startMusicShuffleOn, stopMusicShuffleOn } from '../utils/Music.js';
 import { Ship } from '../entities/Ship.js';
 import { EnemyShip } from '../combat/EnemyShip.js';
+import { enemySheetList } from '../combat/EnemyTypes.js';
 import { Planet } from '../entities/Planet.js';
 import { AsteroidCluster } from '../entities/AsteroidCluster.js';
 import { Station } from '../entities/Station.js';
@@ -153,20 +154,14 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       );
     }
 
-    // The ENEMY ship spritesheet (data/combat.json → enemy.texture):
-    // the hostiles' art for the combat sandbox (js/combat/, combat.html).
-    // Loaded here too — the texture is available in the main game for
-    // when combat ships in; the sandbox is where the numbers get tuned.
-    const enemyTexture = config.get('combat.enemy.texture', '');
-    if (enemyTexture) {
-      this.load.spritesheet(
-        EnemyShip.TEXTURE_KEY,
-        enemyTexture,
-        {
-          frameWidth: config.get('combat.enemy.frameWidth', 128),
-          frameHeight: config.get('combat.enemy.frameHeight', 128),
-        },
-      );
+    // The ENEMY spritesheets (data/combat.json → enemy.texture + the
+    // enemyTypes' own textures — EnemyTypes.enemySheetList is the seam,
+    // one key per source file, EnemyShip.textureKey). Loaded here too —
+    // the art is available in the main game for the WAVE RUNS
+    // (js/combat/Waves.js → CombatSystem.startWaves); the sandbox is
+    // where the numbers get tuned.
+    for (const { src, frameWidth, frameHeight } of enemySheetList()) {
+      this.load.spritesheet(EnemyShip.textureKey(src), src, { frameWidth, frameHeight });
     }
 
     // The asteroid spritesheet (data/asteroids.json → texture): 128×128
@@ -974,17 +969,33 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
           kills: () => this.combat?.kills ?? 0,
           spawn: (n = 1) => {
             if (!this.combat || !this.ship) return;
+            const r = this.combat._offscreenRadius();
             for (let i = 0; i < n; i++) {
               const a = Math.random() * Math.PI * 2;
               this.combat.spawnEnemy(
-                this.ship.x + Math.cos(a) * 420,
-                this.ship.y + Math.sin(a) * 420,
+                this.ship.x + Math.cos(a) * r,
+                this.ship.y + Math.sin(a) * r,
                 100 + i,
               );
             }
           },
           damagePlayer: (n = 10) => this.combat?.damagePlayer(n),
           cast: (i) => this.combat?.cast(i),
+          // WAVE RUNS (js/combat/Waves.js — the quest-step combat): start a
+          // script (a combat.waves.scripts NAME or a raw wave list), watch
+          // it, cancel it. The QUEST HOOK that fires startWaves lands
+          // later; until then this console seam IS the entry point.
+          waves: {
+            start: (script, opts) => this.combat?.startWaves(script, opts) ?? null,
+            cancel: (destroy = false) => this.combat?.cancelWaves(destroy) ?? null,
+            status: () => this.combat?.waveStatus() ?? null,
+            demo: (name = 'raid') =>
+              this.combat?.startWaves(name, {
+                onWaveStart: (i) => console.info(`[orbit] wave ${i + 1} in`),
+                onWaveClear: (i) => console.info(`[orbit] wave ${i + 1} cleared`),
+                onComplete: (s) => console.info('[orbit] combat complete', s),
+              }) ?? null,
+          },
         };
       }
       console.info(