The kernel's first stage is not new infrastructure, it is a written contract
for the state-transition seam (pre_state, block) -> (post_state, receipts)
through StateView only, plus a harness that proves two independent clients
agree on the state root of real chain-2800 blocks, in both directions per the
D-150 rule (what was lost, not only what was added).
Run and measured 2026-08-15, from the two public endpoints (Besu at
rpc.aere.network, Nethermind at client2.aere.network): 24 blocks, 168 fields,
zero divergences. All four negative-control plants (value differs, block only
on one side, a lost field, a corrupted side) make the gate go red exactly
where planted. Installs nothing, three read-only RPC methods, runnable by
anyone. This makes "a second execution machine tomorrow" a mechanical slot,
not a promise.
