diff --git a/.env.test b/.env.test
index 28d2da0..32d335d 100644
--- a/.env.test
+++ b/.env.test
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 SESSION_DRIVER=memory
+DB_DATABASE=usenet_rebuild_test
diff --git a/app/services/batch_store.ts b/app/services/batch_store.ts
index 1598886..7ceeac1 100644
--- a/app/services/batch_store.ts
+++ b/app/services/batch_store.ts
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class BatchStore {
         const rows = releases.slice(i, i + 500).map((r) => ({
           release_id: ids.get(r.key)!,
           range_id: rangeId,
-          batch_seq: batch.from,
+          batch_from: batch.from,
           files: r.files,
           segments: r.segments,
           payload: r.payload,
@@ -100,7 +100,13 @@ class BatchStore {
       }
 
       for (let i = 0; i < batch.fragments.length; i += 2000) {
-        const rows = batch.fragments.slice(i, i + 2000).map((f) => ({ range_id: rangeId, file_key: f.fileKey, article_number: f.articleNumber, segment: JSON.stringify(f) }))
+        const rows = batch.fragments.slice(i, i + 2000).map((f) => ({
+          range_id: rangeId,
+          file_key: f.fileKey,
+          article_number: Math.min(...f.segments.map((s) => s[3])),
+          segments: f.segments.length,
+          fragment: JSON.stringify(f),
+        }))
         await trx.insertQuery().table('fragments').multiInsert(rows)
       }
 
diff --git a/app/services/prefetcher.ts b/app/services/prefetcher.ts
index ccf6c43..31f021b 100644
--- a/app/services/prefetcher.ts
+++ b/app/services/prefetcher.ts
@@ -2,39 +2,48 @@ import db from '@adonisjs/lucid/services/db'
 import logger from '@adonisjs/core/services/logger'
 import coordinatorConfig from '#config/coordinator'
 import NntpPool from '#services/nntp_pool'
-import Spool from '#services/spool'
+import Spool, { type ChunkSpan } from '#services/spool'
 
 interface Target {
   id: number
   group: string
-  start: number
-  end: number
-  next: number
-  leased: boolean
+  /** Chunks not spooled yet, in order. */
+  missing: ChunkSpan[]
+  /** All of the range's chunks from its resume point. */
+  total: number
 }
 
+/** How often the targets are read again from the database. */
+const REFRESH_MS = 2000
+
 /**
- * Keeps the news server busy ahead of the workers (REBUILD.md, prefetch):
- * the missing chunks of leased ranges first, then the next planned ranges,
- * about SPOOL_AHEAD_PER_LEASE per active lease (at least SPOOL_MIN_AHEAD),
- * within SPOOL_MAX_GB. One range per connection at a time, in order.
+ * Keeps the news server busy ahead of the workers (REBUILD.md, prefetch).
+ * Every connection takes the next missing chunk: the leased ranges' first
+ * (a worker waits for them; all connections work on the same range, in
+ * order), then the next planned ranges, about SPOOL_AHEAD_PER_LEASE per
+ * active lease (at least SPOOL_MIN_AHEAD), within SPOOL_MAX_GB. One
+ * connection fills ~26 k overview lines/s, so a range on one connection
+ * kept its worker waiting (LOG.md 2026-10-09).
  */
 export class Prefetcher {
-  private busy = new Set<number>()
+  private targets: Target[] = []
+  private claimed = new Set<string>()
+  private running = 0
+  private refreshedAt = 0
   private stopped = false
 
-  /** One round: starts work for free connections; returns how many ranges it started. */
-  async tick(): Promise<number> {
-    const free = NntpPool.size - this.busy.size
-    if (free <= 0) return 0
-    const targets = await this.targets(free)
-    for (const target of targets) {
-      this.busy.add(target.id)
-      this.spoolRange(target)
-        .catch((error) => logger.warn(`Spooling range ${target.id}: ${error.message}`))
-        .finally(() => this.busy.delete(target.id))
+  /** One round: refreshes the targets now and then, and puts idle connections to work. */
+  async tick() {
+    if (Date.now() - this.refreshedAt >= REFRESH_MS) {
+      this.refreshedAt = Date.now()
+      this.targets = await this.readTargets()
+    }
+    while (!this.stopped && this.running < NntpPool.size && this.peek()) {
+      this.running++
+      this.work()
+        .catch((error) => logger.warn(`Prefetching: ${error.message}`))
+        .finally(() => this.running--)
     }
-    return targets.length
   }
 
   stop() {
@@ -42,49 +51,64 @@ export class Prefetcher {
   }
 
   get active() {
-    return this.busy.size
+    return this.running
   }
 
-  private async targets(limit: number): Promise<Target[]> {
-    const busy = [...this.busy]
-    const select = (q: any) =>
-      q
-        .from('ranges as r')
-        .join('groups as g', 'g.id', 'r.group_id')
-        .whereNull('r.spooled_at')
-        .whereNotIn('r.id', busy.length > 0 ? busy : [0])
-        .select('r.id', 'g.name as group', 'r.start_id', 'r.end_id', 'r.next_id', 'r.status')
-    // Leased ranges whose chunks aren't all there: a worker is waiting for them.
-    const leased = await select(db.query()).where('r.status', 'leased').orderBy('r.leased_at').limit(limit)
-    const out: Target[] = leased.map(toTarget)
-    if (out.length >= limit) return out
-
-    const [{ leases }] = await db.from('ranges').where('status', 'leased').count('* as leases')
-    const [{ ahead }] = await db.from('ranges').where('status', 'planned').where('spooled_chunks', '>', 0).count('* as ahead')
-    const wanted = Math.max(coordinatorConfig.spool.minAhead, coordinatorConfig.spool.aheadPerLease * Number(leases)) - Number(ahead)
-    if (wanted <= 0 || (await Spool.size()) >= coordinatorConfig.spool.maxBytes) return out
-    const planned = await select(db.query()).where('r.status', 'planned').orderBy([{ column: 'r.priority' }, { column: 'r.id' }]).limit(Math.min(limit - out.length, wanted))
-    return [...out, ...planned.map(toTarget)]
-  }
-
-  private async spoolRange(target: Target) {
-    let count = 0
-    for (const span of Spool.chunksOf({ start: target.start, end: target.end }, target.next)) {
-      if (this.stopped) return
-      if (!(await Spool.has(target.id, span))) {
+  /** One connection's loop: chunks until there is nothing left to fetch. */
+  private async work() {
+    while (!this.stopped) {
+      const next = this.take()
+      if (!next) return
+      const { target, span } = next
+      try {
         const data = await NntpPool.use(async (client) => {
           await client.group(target.group)
           return client.xoverRaw(span.from, span.to)
         })
         await Spool.write(target.id, span, data)
+        const { rows } = await db.rawQuery(
+          `UPDATE ranges SET spooled_chunks = spooled_chunks + 1 WHERE id = ? RETURNING spooled_chunks`,
+          [target.id]
+        )
+        if (Number(rows[0]?.spooled_chunks) >= target.total) await db.from('ranges').where('id', target.id).update({ spooled_at: new Date() })
+      } finally {
+        this.claimed.delete(`${target.id}:${span.from}`)
       }
-      count++
-      await db.from('ranges').where('id', target.id).update({ spooled_chunks: count })
     }
-    await db.from('ranges').where('id', target.id).update({ spooled_at: new Date() })
+  }
+
+  private peek(): boolean {
+    return this.targets.some((t) => t.missing.some((s) => !this.claimed.has(`${t.id}:${s.from}`)))
+  }
+
+  /** The first unclaimed missing chunk, in target order. */
+  private take(): { target: Target; span: ChunkSpan } | null {
+    for (const target of this.targets) {
+      const index = target.missing.findIndex((s) => !this.claimed.has(`${target.id}:${s.from}`))
+      if (index === -1) continue
+      const [span] = target.missing.splice(index, 1)
+      this.claimed.add(`${target.id}:${span.from}`)
+      return { target, span }
+    }
+    return null
+  }
+
+  private async readTargets(): Promise<Target[]> {
+    const rows = (q: any) =>
+      q.from('ranges as r').join('groups as g', 'g.id', 'r.group_id').whereNull('r.spooled_at').select('r.id', 'g.name as group', 'r.start_id', 'r.end_id', 'r.next_id')
+    // Leased ranges whose chunks aren't all there: a worker is waiting for them.
+    const leased = await rows(db.query()).where('r.status', 'leased').orderBy('r.leased_at')
+    const [{ leases }] = await db.from('ranges').where('status', 'leased').count('* as leases')
+    const ahead = Math.max(coordinatorConfig.spool.minAhead, coordinatorConfig.spool.aheadPerLease * Number(leases))
+    const room = (await Spool.size()) < coordinatorConfig.spool.maxBytes
+    const planned = room ? await rows(db.query()).where('r.status', 'planned').orderBy([{ column: 'r.priority' }, { column: 'r.id' }]).limit(ahead) : []
+    const targets: Target[] = []
+    for (const row of [...leased, ...planned]) {
+      const spans = Spool.chunksOf({ start: Number(row.start_id), end: Number(row.end_id) }, Number(row.next_id))
+      const missing: ChunkSpan[] = []
+      for (const span of spans) if (!this.claimed.has(`${row.id}:${span.from}`) && !(await Spool.has(Number(row.id), span))) missing.push(span)
+      targets.push({ id: Number(row.id), group: row.group, missing, total: spans.length })
+    }
+    return targets
   }
 }
-
-function toTarget(row: any): Target {
-  return { id: Number(row.id), group: row.group, start: Number(row.start_id), end: Number(row.end_id), next: Number(row.next_id), leased: row.status === 'leased' }
-}
diff --git a/app/services/rule_sets.ts b/app/services/rule_sets.ts
index 731b088..8435674 100644
--- a/app/services/rule_sets.ts
+++ b/app/services/rule_sets.ts
@@ -12,12 +12,15 @@ class RuleSets {
   async current(): Promise<Rules> {
     let row = await db.from('rule_sets').orderBy('version', 'desc').first()
     if (!row) {
-      const { version: _v, ...rules } = DEFAULT_RULES
+      const { version: _version, ...rules } = DEFAULT_RULES
       await db.table('rule_sets').insert({ version: 1, rules: JSON.stringify({ ...rules, droppedSignatures: [] }), note: 'default' }).onConflict('version').ignore()
       row = await db.from('rule_sets').orderBy('version', 'desc').first()
     }
     const groups = await db.from('groups').where('active', true).select('name', 'priority')
+    const { version: _v, ...defaults } = DEFAULT_RULES
     return {
+      // A field newer than the stored set takes today's default.
+      ...defaults,
       ...(row.rules as StoredRules),
       version: Number(row.version),
       priorities: Object.fromEntries(groups.map((g) => [g.name, Number(g.priority)])),
diff --git a/commands/edge_bench.ts b/commands/edge_bench.ts
index 3422c25..9d5901a 100644
--- a/commands/edge_bench.ts
+++ b/commands/edge_bench.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import env from '#start/env'
 import { XoverClient, parseOverviews } from '#lib/nntp/index'
 import { RangeIndexer } from '#lib/edge/index'
 import { DEFAULT_RULES, type Rules } from '#lib/rules/index'
+import db from '@adonisjs/lucid/services/db'
+import BatchStore from '#services/batch_store'
 
 /**
  * Measures the edge worker on a real range (REBUILD.md: TypeScript or Rust):
@@ -43,6 +45,9 @@ export default class EdgeBench extends BaseCommand {
   @flags.number({ description: 'Chunks without a new part before an open file is given up', default: 5 })
   declare idle: number
 
+  @flags.boolean({ description: 'Also store the batches (BatchStore, the configured database), timed' })
+  declare store: boolean
+
   @flags.string({ description: 'Indexed groups in priority order, comma-separated (owner rule)' })
   declare priorities?: string
 
@@ -92,6 +97,16 @@ export default class EdgeBench extends BaseCommand {
     const counts = new Map<string, number>()
     const keys = new Set<string>()
     let batches = 0
+    let storeMs = 0
+    let rangeId = 0
+    let nodeId = 0
+    if (this.store) {
+      const [g] = await db.table('groups').insert({ name: `bench:${group}:${Date.now()}`, priority: 1_000_000 + (Date.now() % 1_000_000) }).returning('id')
+      const [n] = await db.table('nodes').insert({ name: `bench-${Date.now()}` }).returning('id')
+      nodeId = Number(n.id)
+      const [r] = await db.table('ranges').insert({ group_id: g.id, start_id: start, end_id: end, next_id: start, status: 'leased', node_id: nodeId }).returning('id')
+      rangeId = Number(r.id)
+    }
     const cpuStart = process.cpuUsage()
     const wall = Date.now()
     for (const file of files) {
@@ -114,6 +129,11 @@ export default class EdgeBench extends BaseCommand {
       at = performance.now()
       const batch = indexer.take()
       t.index += performance.now() - at
+      if (this.store) {
+        const storedAt = performance.now()
+        await BatchStore.store(rangeId, nodeId, batch)
+        storeMs += performance.now() - storedAt
+      }
       out.headers += batch.headers
       out.releases += batch.releases.length
       batches++
@@ -138,5 +158,6 @@ export default class EdgeBench extends BaseCommand {
     this.logger.info(`  ${batches} batches of ${this.batchChunks} chunks: ${out.releases} release chunks for ${keys.size} releases (${(out.releases / Math.max(1, keys.size)).toFixed(2)} chunks per release)`)
     this.logger.info(`  kept: ${out.releases} release chunks, ${out.files} files, ${out.segments} segments, payload ${(out.payload / 1e6).toFixed(1)} MB (${(out.payload / Math.max(1, out.segments)).toFixed(1)} B/segment); ${out.candidates} candidates, ${out.fragments} fragments, ${out.samples} samples`)
     for (const [k, v] of [...counts].sort((a, b) => b[1] - a[1]).slice(0, 8)) this.logger.info(`  dropped ${k}: ${v.toLocaleString('en')} articles`)
+    if (this.store) this.logger.info(`  stored ${batches} batches in ${(storeMs / 1000).toFixed(1)} s (${(storeMs / Math.max(1, out.releases)).toFixed(2)} ms per release chunk)`)
   }
 }
diff --git a/commands/edge_node.ts b/commands/edge_node.ts
index 5d96fcf..d1e7f6e 100644
--- a/commands/edge_node.ts
+++ b/commands/edge_node.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { BaseCommand, flags } from '@adonisjs/core/ace'
 import type { CommandOptions } from '@adonisjs/core/types/ace'
 import { setTimeout as sleep } from 'node:timers/promises'
-import { unzipSync } from 'node:zlib'
+import { gzipSync, unzipSync } from 'node:zlib'
 import { parseOverviews } from '#lib/nntp/index'
 import { RangeIndexer, decodeFrames, toWire, type EdgeBatch, type Lease } from '#lib/edge/index'
 
@@ -68,10 +68,13 @@ export default class EdgeNode extends BaseCommand {
     const { range, rules } = lease
     const started = Date.now()
     const indexer = new RangeIndexer({ group: range.group, start: range.start, end: range.end, rules })
-    const totals = { headers: 0, releases: 0, candidates: 0 }
+    const totals = { headers: 0, releases: 0, candidates: 0, bytes: 0, postMs: 0 }
     let chunks = 0
     const post = async (batch: EdgeBatch) => {
+      const at = Date.now()
       const stored = await api.batch(range.id, batch)
+      totals.postMs += Date.now() - at
+      totals.bytes += stored.bytes
       totals.headers += batch.headers
       totals.releases += stored.releases
       totals.candidates += stored.candidates
@@ -94,7 +97,8 @@ export default class EdgeNode extends BaseCommand {
       const seconds = (Date.now() - started) / 1000
       this.logger.info(
         `${range.group} ${range.start}–${range.end}: ${totals.headers.toLocaleString('en')} headers in ${seconds.toFixed(0)} s ` +
-          `(${Math.round(totals.headers / seconds).toLocaleString('en')}/s), ${totals.releases} release chunks, ${totals.candidates} probe candidates.`
+          `(${Math.round(totals.headers / seconds).toLocaleString('en')}/s), ${totals.releases} release chunks, ${totals.candidates} probe candidates; ` +
+          `posted ${(totals.bytes / 1e6).toFixed(1)} MB in ${(totals.postMs / 1000).toFixed(1)} s.`
       )
     } catch (error: any) {
       if (error instanceof LeaseLost) {
@@ -144,10 +148,12 @@ class Api {
     return response.body as unknown as AsyncIterable<Uint8Array>
   }
 
-  async batch(rangeId: number, batch: EdgeBatch): Promise<{ releases: number; candidates: number }> {
-    const response = await this.request(`ranges/${rangeId}/batches`, { method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify(toWire(batch)) })
+  async batch(rangeId: number, batch: EdgeBatch): Promise<{ releases: number; candidates: number; bytes: number }> {
+    // Gzipped: chunk payloads are compressed already, the rest (names, fragments, candidates) compresses well.
+    const body = gzipSync(JSON.stringify(toWire(batch)), { level: 1 })
+    const response = await this.request(`ranges/${rangeId}/batches`, { method: 'POST', body, headers: { 'Content-Encoding': 'gzip' } })
     if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`batch: HTTP ${response.status}`)
-    return response.json() as Promise<{ releases: number; candidates: number }>
+    return { ...((await response.json()) as { releases: number; candidates: number }), bytes: body.length }
   }
 
   async call(rangeId: number, action: 'finish' | 'release' | 'heartbeat') {
diff --git a/config/bodyparser.ts b/config/bodyparser.ts
index b774fcf..7886690 100644
--- a/config/bodyparser.ts
+++ b/config/bodyparser.ts
@@ -27,10 +27,11 @@ const bodyParserConfig = defineConfig({
    * Config for the JSON parser.
    */
   json: {
-    /**
-     * Normalize empty string values to null.
-     */
-    convertEmptyStringsToNull: true,
+    // Edge worker batches carry their releases' chunks (base64) and edge fragments; the limit is on the inflated body.
+    limit: '256mb',
+
+    // Workers send '' on purpose (e.g. a rule count's key); null would break NOT NULL columns.
+    convertEmptyStringsToNull: false,
 
     /**
      * Content types handled by the JSON parser.
@@ -66,8 +67,7 @@ const bodyParserConfig = defineConfig({
     /**
      * Maximum accepted payload size for multipart requests.
      */
-    // Edge worker batches carry their releases' chunks (a few MB, base64).
-    limit: '64mb',
+    limit: '20mb',
 
     /**
      * Content types handled by the multipart parser.
diff --git a/database/migrations/1770000000500_create_release_chunks.ts b/database/migrations/1770000000500_create_release_chunks.ts
index 9c0a387..afef892 100644
--- a/database/migrations/1770000000500_create_release_chunks.ts
+++ b/database/migrations/1770000000500_create_release_chunks.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export default class extends BaseSchema {
         id bigserial,
         release_id bigint NOT NULL,
         range_id bigint NOT NULL,
-        batch_seq integer NOT NULL,
+        batch_from bigint NOT NULL,
         files integer NOT NULL,
         segments integer NOT NULL,
         payload bytea NOT NULL,
diff --git a/database/migrations/1770000000600_create_fragments.ts b/database/migrations/1770000000600_create_fragments.ts
index a020974..b80e130 100644
--- a/database/migrations/1770000000600_create_fragments.ts
+++ b/database/migrations/1770000000600_create_fragments.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import { BaseSchema } from '@adonisjs/lucid/schema'
 
 /**
- * Segments of files cut off by a range's edge (REBUILD.md, fragments): kept
- * by range, merged when the neighbouring range is done, then written as a
- * chunk.
+ * Files cut off by a range's edge (REBUILD.md, fragments): one row per file
+ * and range, with that range's segments; merged when the neighbouring range
+ * is done, then written as a chunk.
  */
 export default class extends BaseSchema {
   async up() {
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ export default class extends BaseSchema {
       table.bigIncrements('id')
       table.bigInteger('range_id').notNullable()
       table.string('file_key', 40).notNullable()
+      // The file's first article in this range.
       table.bigInteger('article_number').notNullable()
-      table.jsonb('segment').notNullable()
+      table.integer('segments').notNullable()
+      table.jsonb('fragment').notNullable()
       table.index(['file_key'])
       table.index(['range_id'])
     })
diff --git a/database/schema.ts b/database/schema.ts
index 3eb293a..ddc7964 100644
--- a/database/schema.ts
+++ b/database/schema.ts
@@ -33,18 +33,20 @@ export class AuthAccessTokenSchema extends BaseModel {
 }
 
 export class FragmentSchema extends BaseModel {
-  static $columns = ['articleNumber', 'fileKey', 'id', 'rangeId', 'segment'] as const
+  static $columns = ['articleNumber', 'fileKey', 'fragment', 'id', 'rangeId', 'segments'] as const
   $columns = FragmentSchema.$columns
   @column()
   declare articleNumber: bigint | number
   @column()
   declare fileKey: string
+  @column()
+  declare fragment: any
   @column({ isPrimary: true })
   declare id: bigint | number
   @column()
   declare rangeId: bigint | number
   @column()
-  declare segment: any
+  declare segments: number
 }
 
 export class GroupSchema extends BaseModel {
@@ -165,10 +167,10 @@ export class RangeSchema extends BaseModel {
 }
 
 export class ReleaseChunkSchema extends BaseModel {
-  static $columns = ['batchSeq', 'createdAt', 'files', 'id', 'payload', 'rangeId', 'releaseId', 'segments'] as const
+  static $columns = ['batchFrom', 'createdAt', 'files', 'id', 'payload', 'rangeId', 'releaseId', 'segments'] as const
   $columns = ReleaseChunkSchema.$columns
   @column()
-  declare batchSeq: number
+  declare batchFrom: bigint | number
   @column.dateTime({ autoCreate: true })
   declare createdAt: DateTime
   @column()
diff --git a/lib/edge/range_indexer.ts b/lib/edge/range_indexer.ts
index e34adfb..5c5c438 100644
--- a/lib/edge/range_indexer.ts
+++ b/lib/edge/range_indexer.ts
@@ -43,13 +43,17 @@ export interface ProbeCandidate {
 
 /** What a rule dropped in a batch (REBUILD.md, rules and recovery). */
 export interface RuleCount {
-  rule: 'crosspost' | 'obfuscated' | 'garbage' | 'per-article' | 'incomplete'
+  rule: 'crosspost' | 'obfuscated' | 'executable' | 'garbage' | 'per-article' | 'incomplete'
   key: string
   articles: number
   files: number
 }
 
-/** A segment of a file cut off by the range's edges, for the neighbouring range. */
+/**
+ * A file cut off by the range's edges, for the neighbouring range: its
+ * details once, and the segments this range had, as
+ * [part, message-id, bytes, article number].
+ */
 export interface Fragment {
   fileKey: string
   name: string
@@ -58,11 +62,8 @@ export interface Fragment {
   totalParts: number
   groups: string[]
   release: { key: string; name: string; source: string; fileTotal?: number } | null
-  number: number
-  messageId: string
-  bytes: number
-  articleNumber: number
   postedAt: number | null
+  segments: [number, string, number, number][]
 }
 
 export interface EdgeBatch {
@@ -186,13 +187,25 @@ export class RangeIndexer {
     }
   }
 
-  /** Given-up segments: kept near the range's edges (the neighbour may complete them), counted otherwise. */
+  /** Given-up segments: kept per file near the range's edges (the neighbour may complete them), counted otherwise. */
   private cutOff(segments: IngestSegment[]) {
     const { start, end } = this.options
+    const byFile = new Map<string, Fragment>()
     for (const s of segments) {
       const n = Number(s.articleNumber)
-      if (Number.isFinite(n) && (n < start + this.edge || n > end - this.edge)) this.batch.fragments.push(fragmentOf(s))
-      else this.count('incomplete', '', 1, 0)
+      if (!Number.isFinite(n) || (n >= start + this.edge && n <= end - this.edge)) {
+        this.count('incomplete', '', 1, 0)
+        continue
+      }
+      let fragment = byFile.get(s.fileKey)
+      if (!fragment) {
+        fragment = fragmentOf(s)
+        byFile.set(s.fileKey, fragment)
+        this.batch.fragments.push(fragment)
+      }
+      fragment.segments.push([s.number, s.messageId, s.bytes, n])
+      const t = s.postedAt?.getTime()
+      if (t !== undefined && Number.isFinite(t) && (fragment.postedAt === null || t < fragment.postedAt)) fragment.postedAt = t
     }
   }
 
@@ -301,10 +314,7 @@ function fragmentOf(s: IngestSegment): Fragment {
     totalParts: s.totalParts,
     groups: s.groups,
     release: s.release ? { key: s.release.key, name: s.release.name, source: s.release.source, ...(s.release.fileTotal ? { fileTotal: s.release.fileTotal } : {}) } : null,
-    number: s.number,
-    messageId: s.messageId,
-    bytes: s.bytes,
-    articleNumber: Number(s.articleNumber),
-    postedAt: s.postedAt && Number.isFinite(s.postedAt.getTime()) ? s.postedAt.getTime() : null,
+    postedAt: null,
+    segments: [],
   }
 }
diff --git a/lib/rules/rule_set.ts b/lib/rules/rule_set.ts
index e46b5f3..ed8edf0 100644
--- a/lib/rules/rule_set.ts
+++ b/lib/rules/rule_set.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ export interface Rules {
   perArticleMaxParts: number
   /** Share of each rule's drops kept in full as a sample (by a hash of the release key). */
   samplePercent: number
+  /**
+   * Drop releases of bare executables (malware floods posted under film and
+   * software names; 92% of the catalog rows of the first test ranges, LOG.md
+   * 2026-10-09). Genuine software comes in archives.
+   */
+  dropExecutables: boolean
 }
 
 export const DEFAULT_RULES: Omit<Rules, 'priorities' | 'droppedSignatures'> = {
@@ -25,9 +31,14 @@ export const DEFAULT_RULES: Omit<Rules, 'priorities' | 'droppedSignatures'> = {
   droppedTools: ['ngPost', 'hex32', 'yuun', 'JBinUp', 'random'],
   perArticleMaxParts: 3,
   samplePercent: 1,
+  dropExecutables: true,
 }
 
-export type Verdict = { rule: null } | { rule: 'garbage' | 'per-article'; key: string; sample: boolean }
+export type Verdict = { rule: null } | { rule: 'executable' | 'garbage' | 'per-article'; key: string; sample: boolean }
+
+/** Files that come along with a release's content: they don't make it one of executables or not. */
+const SIDECAR = /\.(par2|nfo|sfv|txt|jpe?g|png|nzb)$/i
+const EXECUTABLE = /\.(exe|scr|com|pif|bat|cmd|vbs|lnk)\s*$/i
 
 export function isRandomFile(name: string) {
   return looksRandom(fileStem(name))
@@ -52,15 +63,21 @@ export class RuleSet {
   }
 
   /**
-   * A release's verdict from its files: kept as a whole when any file has a
-   * readable name; else dropped as garbage when its signature or tool is
+   * A release's verdict from its files: dropped when its content is bare
+   * executables; else kept as a whole when any file has a readable name; else dropped as garbage when its signature or tool is
    * dropped, as per-article random subjects when every file has few parts.
    */
   judge(releaseKey: string, files: { name: string; totalParts: number; groups: string[]; firstMessageId: string }[]): Verdict {
+    const sample = explored(releaseKey, this.rules.samplePercent)
+    if (this.rules.dropExecutables) {
+      const content = files.filter((f) => !SIDECAR.test(f.name))
+      if (content.length > 0 && content.every((f) => EXECUTABLE.test(f.name))) {
+        return { rule: 'executable', key: EXECUTABLE.exec(content[0].name)![1].toLowerCase(), sample }
+      }
+    }
     if (files.some((f) => !isRandomFile(f.name))) return { rule: null }
     const first = files[0]
     const tool = uploadTool(first.firstMessageId)
-    const sample = explored(releaseKey, this.rules.samplePercent)
     // Garbage first: a dropped tool or signature isn't worth reading bodies for either.
     const group = first.groups[0] ?? ''
     if (this.tools.has(tool) || this.signatures.has(signatureKey(tool, group))) return { rule: 'garbage', key: `${tool} ${group}`, sample }
diff --git a/tests/functional/node_api.spec.ts b/tests/functional/node_api.spec.ts
index d4c5d14..78a31e4 100644
--- a/tests/functional/node_api.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/functional/node_api.spec.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ function chunk(at: number): Buffer {
   const lines = [1, 2].map(
     (n) => `${at + n - 1}\tSome.Show.S01E0${at % 7} [1/1] - "Some.Show.S01E0${at % 7}.1080p.mkv" yEnc (${n}/2)\tp <p@x>\tMon, 05 Oct 2026 10:00:00 +0000\t<a${at}-${n}@test>\t\t700000\t5000\tXref: news.example ${GROUP}:${at + n - 1}`
   )
+  // An obfuscated subject: counted under the key '' (which must survive the body parser).
+  lines.push(`${at + 2}\tobfuscated\tp <p@x>\tMon, 05 Oct 2026 10:00:00 +0000\t<o${at}@test>\t\t700000\t5000\tXref: news.example ${GROUP}:${at + 2}`)
   return deflateSync(Buffer.from(lines.join('\r\n') + '\r\n'))
 }
 
@@ -75,6 +77,8 @@ test.group('Node API', (group) => {
     // The same batch again: refused.
     ;(await client.post(`/api/v1/node/ranges/${rangeId}/batches`).bearerToken(token).json(batch)).assertStatus(409)
 
+    assert.deepEqual((await db.from('rule_counts').where('range_id', rangeId)).map((c) => [c.rule, c.key, Number(c.articles)]), [['obfuscated', '', 3]])
+
     ;(await client.post(`/api/v1/node/ranges/${rangeId}/finish`).bearerToken(token)).assertStatus(200)
     const range = await db.from('ranges').where('id', rangeId).first()
     assert.equal(range.status, 'done')
diff --git a/tests/unit/edge/range_indexer.spec.ts b/tests/unit/edge/range_indexer.spec.ts
index bc2281c..7381b53 100644
--- a/tests/unit/edge/range_indexer.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/edge/range_indexer.spec.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ test.group('edge / RangeIndexer', () => {
     indexer.add([...post(5, 'Edge.File.2020.part1.rar', 3).slice(0, 2), ...post(500_000, 'Middle.File.2020.part1.rar', 3).slice(0, 2)], 600_000)
     indexer.finish()
     const batch = indexer.take()
-    assert.deepEqual(batch.fragments.map((f) => [f.name, f.number]), [['Edge.File.2020.part1.rar', 1], ['Edge.File.2020.part1.rar', 2]])
+    assert.deepEqual(batch.fragments.map((f) => [f.name, f.segments.map((s) => [s[0], s[3]])]), [['Edge.File.2020.part1.rar', [[1, 5], [2, 6]]]])
     assert.deepEqual(batch.counts.map((c) => [c.rule, c.articles]), [['incomplete', 2]])
     assert.lengthOf(batch.releases, 0)
   })
diff --git a/tests/unit/rules/rule_set.spec.ts b/tests/unit/rules/rule_set.spec.ts
index 66caf0b..20c6fd8 100644
--- a/tests/unit/rules/rule_set.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/rules/rule_set.spec.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@ test.group('rules / verdicts', () => {
     assert.deepEqual(rules.judge('k', [file('Hs7dKq2LmZ9xWv3RtYp1Qa.part01.rar', 50, NGPOST), file('Some.Show.S01E01.1080p.nfo', 1, NGPOST)]), { rule: null })
   })
 
+  test('bare executables are dropped, sidecars aside; an executable among other content is kept', ({ assert }) => {
+    assert.include(rules.judge('k', [file('How to Make Love to a Woman 2010.scr', 10, NYUU), file('How to Make Love to a Woman 2010.par2', 1, NYUU)]), { rule: 'executable', key: 'scr' })
+    assert.include(rules.judge('k', [file('Adobe Illustrator CS2 + ssg keygen.zip  .exe', 3, NYUU)]), { rule: 'executable', key: 'exe' })
+    assert.deepEqual(rules.judge('k', [file('Some.App.v1.0.part1.rar', 50, NYUU), file('setup.exe', 2, NYUU)]), { rule: null })
+  })
+
   test('random names: per-article with few parts, garbage by tool or signature, else kept', ({ assert }) => {
     assert.include(rules.judge('k', [file('Hs7dKq2LmZ9xWv3RtYp1Qa', 2, NYUU)]), { rule: 'per-article', key: 'nyuu' })
     assert.include(rules.judge('k', [file('Hs7dKq2LmZ9xWv3RtYp1Qa.part01.rar', 50, NGPOST)]), { rule: 'garbage', key: 'ngPost alt.binaries.ath' })