---
purpose: Activation aliases + paired-mode flow + one-session degraded mode for the lfcs-orchestrator + lfcs-pricing pair.
authored_by: claude-code-orchestrator
created: 2026-05-09
referenced_from: CLAUDE.md §1 (Identity → activation alias) and §4 (read order)
---

# Activation — running the orchestrator + worker pair

Two Claude Code sessions, two terminals. The orchestrator is the "brain"; the worker is the "hands."

## Aliases

PowerShell `$PROFILE`:

```powershell
function orch { Set-Location "C:\Users\mclou\rateright-growth-deploy\HQ-Vault\11_OpsMan_LFCS\Codebase\lfcs-orchestrator"; claude }
function lfo  { orch }
function lfp  { Set-Location "C:\Users\mclou\rateright-growth-deploy\HQ-Vault\11_OpsMan_LFCS\Codebase\lfcs-pricing-agent"; claude }
```

bash `~/.bashrc`:

```bash
alias orch='cd "/c/Users/mclou/rateright-growth-deploy/HQ-Vault/11_OpsMan_LFCS/Codebase/lfcs-orchestrator" && claude'
alias lfo='orch'
alias lfp='cd "/c/Users/mclou/rateright-growth-deploy/HQ-Vault/11_OpsMan_LFCS/Codebase/lfcs-pricing-agent" && claude'
```

## Paired-mode activation flow

1. Open two terminals.
2. Terminal A: `lfo` — orchestrator session.
3. Terminal B: `lfp` — worker session.
4. In A: tell the orchestrator the job ID. Two patterns:
   - Lifecycle: `start bid 2631 from C:/Users/mclou/lfcs-inbound-artefacts/2631/...` (invokes `lfo-bid-lifecycle` skill — drives Phases 1→7 end-to-end via handoff bus + daemon).
   - Manual paste: "start orchestrator on 2631 — RFQ at `…`" (orchestrator runs Phase 1 in A, hands Rocky markdown blocks to paste into B).
5. For lifecycle mode: orchestrator + daemon shepherd messages between terminals. Rocky touchpoints reduce to ~2 per bid (Phase 1 review gate + Phase 6 send authorisation).
6. For manual mode: Rocky pastes orchestrator output into B, pastes worker output back into A, repeats until Phase 4 sanity-check.

## One-session degraded mode

If Rocky only opens one Claude Code session, the orchestrator can run the worker contracts itself (it has the same vault access). Quality drops because the gap-watch loses its `prompt vs output` cleanness; the model may execute its own draft without re-reading. Use only if a second window is impossible. Document degraded-mode usage in the session log.

## Daemon

Recommended for paired-mode + lifecycle activation. See `daemon/lfo_handoff_daemon.py`. Two run modes:

- **Notify-only:** `python lfo_handoff_daemon.py --interactive` — phone push on file changes + 30/60/90 min Rocky-gate stall escalation. Rocky still drives both terminals.
- **Autonomous:** `python lfo_handoff_daemon.py` (default) — spawns `claude -p` headless on file change. Both agents run end-to-end without Rocky terminal input. Safety caps: `MAX_ITERATIONS_PER_BID=30`, `MAX_WALL_HOURS_PER_BID=4`, `PER_CALL_TIMEOUT_SECONDS=600`. See `_Internal/known-limits.md` for current battle-test status.