diff --git a/data/sidequests.json b/data/sidequests.json
index 158c2f2..416e5cc 100644
--- a/data/sidequests.json
+++ b/data/sidequests.json
@@ -1057,7 +1057,7 @@
       "color": "#ff5c77",
       "text": "ACCESS DENIED — THE CONVOY'S DESTINATION HOLDS UNTIL THE TRANSPORT LANDS"
     },
-    "_commentBounty": "The BOUNTY HUNT's face (js/ui/JobBoardWindow.js + GameScene.updateBountyHunt). NOTE THE SILENCE: nothing here names the leg that holds the mark or a picket wave — the chain is hidden until it fires, so these lines only ever speak of what the player has already flown into. bountyLockBadge = the greyed row's plate (and the detail's lock line) under categories.bounty.minLevel; bountyAcceptDenyToast = the scene's refusal when a locked contract is pressed anyway.",
+    "_commentBounty": "The BOUNTY HUNT's face (js/ui/JobBoardWindow.js + GameScene.updateBountyHunt). NOTE THE SILENCE: nothing here names the leg that holds the mark or a picket wave — the chain is hidden until it fires, so these lines only ever speak of what the player has already flown into. bountyLockBadge = the greyed row's plate (and the detail's lock line) under categories.bounty.minLevel; bountyAcceptDenyToast = the scene's refusal when a locked contract is pressed anyway. {bounty,escort}GateLockBadge / …GateLockSub / …GateDenyToast = the GATE ACCESS lock's words (the faction boards' hunts + rescues behind a hostile neighbor — the posting's gateLevel): the greyed row's badge, the detail's lock line, and the scene's refusal, each naming the target system the player needs access to FIRST ({system}) and the combat level that access opens at ({level}).",
     "bountyLockBadge": "LOCKED — REQUIRES LEVEL {level}",
     "bountyLockSub": "BRING YOUR RECORD UP TO LEVEL {level} AND THE BOARD WILL LIST YOU",
     "bountyAcceptDenyToast": {
@@ -1095,19 +1095,19 @@
       "color": "#67e863",
       "text": "BOUNTY HUNT COMPLETE — {name} IS DOWN, ITS REWARD IS READY TO CLAIM"
     },
-    "bountyGateLockBadge": "LOCKED — GATE ACCESS LEVEL {level}",
-    "bountyGateLockSub": "THE TARGET SYSTEM BEHIND THE GATE OPENS AT COMBAT LEVEL {level}",
+    "bountyGateLockBadge": "LOCKED — ACCESS TO {system} REQUIRED",
+    "bountyGateLockSub": "ACCESS TO {system} OPENS AT COMBAT LEVEL {level}",
     "bountyGateDenyToast": {
       "glyph": "✕",
       "color": "#ff2d6f",
-      "text": "GATE LOCKED — THE TARGET SYSTEM OPENS AT COMBAT LEVEL {level}"
+      "text": "COMMISSION REFUSED — ACCESS TO {system} OPENS AT COMBAT LEVEL {level}"
     },
-    "escortGateLockBadge": "LOCKED — GATE ACCESS LEVEL {level}",
-    "escortGateLockSub": "THE TRANSPORT'S GROUND BEHIND THE GATE OPENS AT COMBAT LEVEL {level}",
+    "escortGateLockBadge": "LOCKED — ACCESS TO {system} REQUIRED",
+    "escortGateLockSub": "ACCESS TO {system} OPENS AT COMBAT LEVEL {level}",
     "escortGateDenyToast": {
       "glyph": "✕",
       "color": "#ff2d6f",
-      "text": "GATE LOCKED — THE TRANSPORT'S GROUND OPENS AT COMBAT LEVEL {level}"
+      "text": "COMMISSION REFUSED — ACCESS TO {system} OPENS AT COMBAT LEVEL {level}"
     }
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dev/bounty-hunts.test.mjs b/dev/bounty-hunts.test.mjs
index 37572a7..c41e193 100644
--- a/dev/bounty-hunts.test.mjs
+++ b/dev/bounty-hunts.test.mjs
@@ -200,6 +200,22 @@ section('THE BOARD — rows on Neutral boards, LOCKED below level 2');
       const at = S.sideQuestAcceptable(fb, gl);
       check(`${f} board's hunt is LOCKED below the gate level`, below.locked === true, `lvl=${gl - 1} locked=${below.locked}`);
       check(`${f} board's hunt OPENS at the gate level`, at.ok === true, `lvl=${gl} ok=${at.ok}`);
+      // The gate lock speaks the GATE's own words — naming the system the
+      // player needs access to FIRST (the row's badge, the detail's line,
+      // and the scene's refusal — data → ui.{bounty,escort}Gate*), not the
+      // level gate's generic "REQUIRES LEVEL" plate.
+      check(`${f} board's hunt's gate lock is the binding door`, S.postingGateLocked(fb) === true, `gateLevel=${fb.gateLevel} minLevel=${fb.minLevel}`);
+      for (const w of ['badge', 'sub', 'deny']) {
+        const copy = S.gateLockCopy(fb, w);
+        check(`${f} board's gate ${w} names the target system`, new RegExp(`ACCESS TO RIVAL ${f.toUpperCase()}`.replace(/\s+/g, '\\s+')).test(copy?.text ?? ''), copy?.text);
+      }
+      // The badge carries the system; the sub + the refusal add the level that opens it.
+      for (const w of ['sub', 'deny']) {
+        const copy = S.gateLockCopy(fb, w);
+        check(`${f} board's gate ${w} names the level that opens it`, new RegExp(`LEVEL ${gl}`).test(copy?.text ?? ''), copy?.text);
+      }
+      check('the gate-locked stamp rides the posting below the gate level', S.sideQuestPostingsFor(99, rec, 'p1', g, gl - 1).some((p) => p.category === 'bounty' && p.locked === true && p.gateLocked === true));
+      check('the stamp lifts at the gate level', S.sideQuestPostingsFor(99, rec, 'p1', g, gl).every((p) => !(p.category === 'bounty' && p.gateLocked === true)));
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/dev/escort.test.mjs b/dev/escort.test.mjs
index 9e0f588..f6a7252 100644
--- a/dev/escort.test.mjs
+++ b/dev/escort.test.mjs
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ const {
   sideQuestAcceptable,
   sideQuestPostingsFor,
   gateAccessLevel,
+  gateLockCopy,
+  postingGateLocked,
   escortDestinationFor,
   escortWaveRoster,
   escortEncounterXp,
@@ -160,6 +162,22 @@ console.log('== the posting — neutral boards stand the classic escort; faction
   assert.ok(typeof fe.gateLevel === 'number' && fe.gateLevel >= gl && gl >= 1, `the rescue carries a GATE lock (target is faction-held) — gateLevel=${fe.gateLevel} rule=${gl}`);
   assert.equal(sideQuestAcceptable(fe, gl - 1).locked, true, 'the rescue is LOCKED below the gate level');
   assert.equal(sideQuestAcceptable(fe, gl).ok, true, 'the rescue OPENS at the gate level');
+  // The gate lock speaks the GATE's own words — naming the system the
+  // player needs access to FIRST (the transport's ground here, not the
+  // delivery's friendly destination), in the row's badge, the detail's
+  // line, and the scene's refusal (data → ui.escortGate*).
+  assert.equal(postingGateLocked(fe), true, 'the escort’s gate lock is the binding door');
+  for (const w of ['badge', 'sub', 'deny']) {
+    const copy = gateLockCopy(fe, w);
+    assert.ok(/ACCESS TO APEX VERGE/.test(copy?.text ?? ''), `the escort gate ${w} names the transport's system`, copy?.text);
+    assert.ok(!/ZENITH VERGE/.test(copy?.text ?? ''), `the escort gate ${w} never names the delivery's own system`, copy?.text);
+  }
+  // The badge carries the system; the sub + the refusal add the level that opens it.
+  for (const w of ['sub', 'deny']) {
+    const copy = gateLockCopy(fe, w);
+    assert.ok(new RegExp(`LEVEL ${gl}`).test(copy?.text ?? ''), `the escort gate ${w} names the opening level`, copy?.text);
+  }
+  assert.ok(gateLockCopy(fe, 'deny')?.glyph !== '', 'the escort gate refusal carries its own glyph');
 }
 
 // ===========================================================================
diff --git a/js/quests/SideQuests.js b/js/quests/SideQuests.js
index c15af81..1288a7a 100644
--- a/js/quests/SideQuests.js
+++ b/js/quests/SideQuests.js
@@ -1475,6 +1475,69 @@ export function bountyDenyCopy() {
   return bountyUiLine('bountyAcceptDenyToast', { level: bountyMinLevel() }, 'COMMISSION REFUSED — LEVEL {level} REQUIRED');
 }
 
+/**
+ * The system name the posting's GATE ACCESS lock stands on — the system the
+ * player needs access to FIRST: the BOUNTY's mark's home (targetSystemName)
+or the ESCORT's trapped transport's ground (enemySystemName). Null when the
+ * posting names none (a neutral posting, a data gap — the copy then falls
+ * to the level gate's own words).
+ * @param {object} posting a sideQuestPostingsFor posting
+ * @returns {string|null}
+ */
+export function gateLockSystemName(posting) {
+  const p = posting && typeof posting === 'object' ? posting : {};
+  const raw = p.category === 'escort' ? p.enemySystemName : p.targetSystemName;
+  const name = String(raw ?? '').trim();
+  return name !== '' ? name : null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Is the posting's binding door the GATE ACCESS lock (its target system sits
+ * behind a faction gate) rather than the category's own level gate? The
+ * gate level must stand AND outrun the level gate — then the lock's words
+ * are the gate's, with the system named (gateLockCopy).
+ * @param {object} posting a sideQuestPostingsFor posting
+ * @returns {boolean}
+ */
+export function postingGateLocked(posting) {
+  const gl = Math.max(0, Math.floor(Number(posting?.gateLevel) || 0));
+  if (gl <= 0) return false;
+  const minLevel = sideQuestCategoryMeta(posting?.category)?.minLevel ?? 0;
+  return gl >= minLevel;
+}
+
+/**
+ * The GATE ACCESS lock's copy — the faction board's hunt / rescue stands
+ * behind a gate into the hostile neighbor's system, and the player is told
+ * WHICH system it needs access to before the contract stands open (the
+ * data's {system} placeholder, resolved against the posting: bounty →
+ * targetSystemName, escort → enemySystemName; the {level} is the posting's
+ * gateLevel — the capability that opens the hop). The `which` forms: 'badge'
+ * (the row's greyed plate + the door's label), 'sub' (the detail's lock
+ * line), 'deny' (the scene's refusal when a locked contract is pressed).
+ * A posting with no named system (a data gap) degrades to the level gate's
+ * own words rather than shipping an empty brace pair.
+ * @param {object} posting a sideQuestPostingsFor posting
+ * @param {'badge'|'sub'|'deny'} [which] the form
+ * @returns {{glyph:string,color:string,text:string}}
+ */
+export function gateLockCopy(posting, which = 'badge') {
+  const isEscort = String(posting?.category ?? '') === 'escort';
+  const key = {
+    badge: isEscort ? 'escortGateLockBadge' : 'bountyGateLockBadge',
+    sub: isEscort ? 'escortGateLockSub' : 'bountyGateLockSub',
+    deny: isEscort ? 'escortGateDenyToast' : 'bountyGateDenyToast',
+  }[which] ?? (isEscort ? 'escortGateLockBadge' : 'bountyGateLockBadge');
+  const level =
+    Math.max(0, Math.floor(Number(posting?.gateLevel) || 0)) ||
+    Math.max(0, Math.floor(numOr(config.get('gates.jump.factionLock.minLevel', 5), 5)));
+  const name = gateLockSystemName(posting);
+  if (name === null) return which === 'deny' ? bountyDenyCopy() : bountyLockCopy(which === 'sub');
+  const fb =
+    which === 'deny' ? 'COMMISSION REFUSED — ACCESS TO {system} OPENS AT COMBAT LEVEL {level}' : 'LOCKED — ACCESS TO {system} REQUIRED';
+  return bountyUiLine(key, { system: String(name).toUpperCase(), level }, fb);
+}
+
 /** A hunt line's copy (a leg logged / pickets inbound / the mark sighted / down / complete). */
 export function bountyText(key, vars = {}) {
   return bountyUiLine(key, vars, '');
@@ -1637,6 +1700,12 @@ export function sideQuestPostingsFor(seed, rec, worldKey, galaxy = null, level =
     const gate = sideQuestAcceptable(posting, level);
     posting.locked = gate.locked === true;
     posting.minLevel = gate.minLevel;
+    // The GATE ACCESS lock's mark (the posting's target system sits behind a
+    // faction gate and it is the binding door — the board's row / detail +
+    // the scene's refusal then speak in the gate's words, the system named,
+    // not the level gate's).
+    posting.gateLocked =
+      gate.locked === true && gate.gateLevel > 0 && gate.gateLevel >= gate.minLevel;
     out.push(posting);
   }
   return out;
diff --git a/js/scenes/GameScene.js b/js/scenes/GameScene.js
index 444f082..30e7874 100644
--- a/js/scenes/GameScene.js
+++ b/js/scenes/GameScene.js
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ import {
   patrolRouteComplete,
   sideQuestAcceptable,
   bountyDenyCopy,
+  gateLockCopy,
   deriveBountyPlan,
   bountySkirmishScript,
   bountyEngagementScript,
@@ -5686,19 +5687,27 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     if (!this.sideQuestState) return { ok: false };
     const posting = this.sideQuestPostings(worldName, isStation).find((p) => p.id === jobId) ?? null;
     if (!posting) return { ok: false };
-    // The LEVEL GATE (data/sidequests.json → categories.bounty.minLevel — the
-    // hunt's 2): a locked contract is a REFUSAL, never a record. The board
-    // renders the row LOCKED; pressing it anyway says why in the data's own
-    // words (`bountyAcceptDenyToast`) and hands the caller `locked` so the
-    // surface console can say the same thing out loud.
+    // The ACCEPT gates: the LEVEL gate (data/sidequests.json →
+    // categories.bounty.minLevel — the hunt's 2) and the GATE ACCESS gate
+    // (the posting's gateLevel — its target system behind a faction gate). A
+    // locked contract is a REFUSAL, never a record. The board renders the
+    // row LOCKED; pressing it anyway says why in the data's own words — the
+    // level gate's (bountyAcceptDenyToast) or the gate's (the system named —
+    // *GateDenyToast) — and hands the caller `locked` so the surface
+    // console can say the same thing out loud.
     const gate = sideQuestAcceptable(posting, this.combatLevel());
     if (!gate.ok) {
-      const deny = bountyDenyCopy();
+      // The GATE ACCESS lock (a faction board's hunt / rescue behind a
+      // hostile neighbor — the posting's gateLevel) speaks the GATE's own
+      // words, naming the system the player needs access to FIRST (data →
+      // ui.{bounty,escort}GateDenyToast); the level gate keeps its own.
+      const gateLocked = gate.gateLevel > 0 && gate.gateLevel >= gate.minLevel;
+      const deny = gateLocked ? gateLockCopy(posting, 'deny') : bountyDenyCopy();
       this.consoleToast(String(deny?.text ?? 'COMMISSION REFUSED'), {
         glyph: deny?.glyph || '\u2717',
         glyphColor: toCss(deny?.color || '#ff5c77'),
       });
-      return { ok: false, locked: true, posting };
+      return { ok: false, locked: true, gateLocked, posting };
     }
     if (!this.sideQuestState.accept(jobId)) return { ok: false };
     // The PATROL's ROUTE stands WITH the accept — the route is the
diff --git a/js/scenes/SurfaceScene.js b/js/scenes/SurfaceScene.js
index c35d825..07fd128 100644
--- a/js/scenes/SurfaceScene.js
+++ b/js/scenes/SurfaceScene.js
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import { CreditsHud } from '../ui/CreditsHud.js';
 import { MineralHud } from '../ui/MineralHud.js';
 import * as Economy from '../economy/Economy.js';
 import { buildDefs } from '../research/ResearchModel.js';
+import { gateLockCopy } from '../quests/SideQuests.js';
 
 /**
  * The double-click window (ms): two presses this close together during a
@@ -1617,13 +1618,17 @@ export class SurfaceScene extends Phaser.Scene {
         { glyph: t.glyph ?? '◆', glyphColor: t.color ? toCss(t.color) : undefined },
       );
     } else if (res?.locked) {
-      // The LEVEL GATE's refusal (a BOUNTY HUNT under categories.bounty.minLevel
-      // — data → ui.bountyAcceptDenyToast): the board greyed the row, so this is
-      // the line that says WHY, in the level's own number off the posting. The
-      // game scene's own toast lands behind this sleeping one.
-      const d = config.get('sidequests.ui.bountyAcceptDenyToast', {});
+      // The GATE ACCESS lock's refusal (a faction board's hunt / rescue
+      // behind a hostile neighbor) names the system the player needs access
+      // to FIRST (data → ui.{bounty,escort}GateDenyToast — the gate's own
+      // words, the target system filled); the LEVEL GATE's refusal is the
+      // generic line, its level off the posting. The game scene's own toast
+      // lands behind this sleeping one.
+      const d = res?.gateLocked
+        ? gateLockCopy(res.posting, 'deny')
+        : config.get('sidequests.ui.bountyAcceptDenyToast', {});
       const level = Number.isFinite(Number(res?.posting?.minLevel)) ? Math.floor(Number(res.posting.minLevel)) : 2;
-      this.consoleNote(String(d.text ?? 'COMMISSION REFUSED — LEVEL {level} REQUIRED').replace(/\{level\}/g, String(level)), {
+      this.consoleNote(String(d.text ?? 'COMMISSION REFUSED').replace(/\{level\}/g, String(level)), {
         glyph: d.glyph ?? '✗',
         glyphColor: d.color ? toCss(d.color) : undefined,
       });
diff --git a/js/ui/JobBoardWindow.js b/js/ui/JobBoardWindow.js
index 51be078..acbc415 100644
--- a/js/ui/JobBoardWindow.js
+++ b/js/ui/JobBoardWindow.js
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ import { fontStack, themeColor } from '../utils/Theme.js';
 import { ScrambleDecode } from '../utils/Decode.js';
 import { playSfxOn } from '../utils/Sfx.js';
 import { CyberShape } from './CyberShape.js';
+import { gateLockCopy } from '../quests/SideQuests.js';
 
 const HEADER = fontStack('header');
 const BODY = fontStack('body');
@@ -602,11 +603,16 @@ export class JobBoardWindow extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
       let rightTxt;
       let rightColor;
       if (locked) {
-        // The gate reads on the row itself: LOCKED — REQUIRES LEVEL 2 (data →
-        // ui.bountyLockBadge), greyed in place of the payout. The row still
-        // SELECTS (the dossier is readable before the level lands); the
-        // scene's accept is the door that refuses.
-        rightTxt = fillLevel(String(ui.bountyLockBadge ?? 'LOCKED — REQUIRES LEVEL {level}'), p);
+        // The gate reads on the row itself: the LEVEL gate reads LOCKED —
+        // REQUIRES LEVEL 2 (data → ui.bountyLockBadge); the GATE ACCESS lock
+        // (the faction boards' hunt / rescue behind a hostile neighbor) names
+        // the system the player needs access to FIRST (data →
+        // ui.{bounty,escort}GateLockBadge). The row still SELECTS (the
+        // dossier is readable before the level lands); the scene's accept
+        // is the door that refuses.
+        rightTxt = p.gateLocked === true
+          ? gateLockCopy(p, 'badge')?.text ?? 'LOCKED'
+          : fillLevel(String(ui.bountyLockBadge ?? 'LOCKED — REQUIRES LEVEL {level}'), p);
         rightColor = C.faint;
         rightSize = '9px';
       } else if (state === 'claimed') {
@@ -797,15 +803,18 @@ export class JobBoardWindow extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
       if (dossier.craftLabel) dline(ui.dossierCraft ?? 'CRAFT — {craft}', { craft: String(dossier.craftLabel).toUpperCase() }, { color: C.faint });
     }
     // The level gate's own line under the dossier (data → ui.bountyLockSub):
-    // what the record needs, not what the contract hides.
+    // what the record needs, not what the contract hides — or, under the
+    // GATE ACCESS lock, the GATE's own words naming the system the player
+    // needs access to first (data → ui.{bounty,escort}GateLockSub).
     if (sel.locked === true && !this.isAccepted(sel.id)) {
+      const gateLine = sel.gateLocked === true ? gateLockCopy(sel, 'sub') : null;
       const lock = s
-        .text(rightX + 14, lineY, fillLevel(String(ui.bountyLockSub ?? 'BRING YOUR RECORD UP TO LEVEL {level} AND THE BOARD WILL LIST YOU'), sel), {
-          fontFamily: BODY,
-          fontSize: '9px',
-          color: toCss(0xff5c77),
-          letterSpacing: 2,
-        })
+        .text(
+          rightX + 14,
+          lineY,
+          gateLine?.text ?? fillLevel(String(ui.bountyLockSub ?? 'BRING YOUR RECORD UP TO LEVEL {level} AND THE BOARD WILL LIST YOU'), sel),
+          { fontFamily: BODY, fontSize: '9px', color: toCss(0xff5c77), letterSpacing: 2 },
+        )
         .setScrollFactor(0);
       this.add(lock);
       this.detailSection.content.push(lock);
@@ -924,7 +933,12 @@ export class JobBoardWindow extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
       // pressing it is how the player learns the rule (the scene's accept
       // refuses with data/sidequests.json → ui.bountyAcceptDenyToast, which
       // the surface console speaks out). No contract is taken, ever.
-      label = fillLevel(String(ui.bountyLockBadge ?? 'LOCKED — REQUIRES LEVEL {level}'), sel);
+      // Under the GATE ACCESS lock the door reads the gate's own badge,
+      // the system named (data → ui.{bounty,escort}GateLockBadge).
+      label =
+        sel.gateLocked === true
+          ? gateLockCopy(sel, 'badge')?.text ?? 'LOCKED'
+          : fillLevel(String(ui.bountyLockBadge ?? 'LOCKED — REQUIRES LEVEL {level}'), sel);
       color = 0xff5c77;
       action = 'accept';
     } else if (state === 'open') {