diff --git a/lisp/core-communication.lisp b/lisp/core-communication.lisp
index 2ef953c..b713381 100644
--- a/lisp/core-communication.lisp
+++ b/lisp/core-communication.lisp
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 (defvar *actuator-registry* (make-hash-table :test 'equalp)
   "Global registry mapping target keywords to their physical actuator functions.")
 
-(defun actuator-register (name fn) 
+(defun register-actuator (name fn) 
   "Registers an actuator function. Actuators receive: (ACTION CONTEXT)."
   (let ((key (if (keywordp name) name (intern (string-upcase (string name)) :keyword))))
     (setf (gethash key *actuator-registry*) fn)))
diff --git a/lisp/core-defpackage.lisp b/lisp/core-defpackage.lisp
index 90d4cae..0fc589a 100644
--- a/lisp/core-defpackage.lisp
+++ b/lisp/core-defpackage.lisp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
    #:context-get-skill-telemetry
    #:telemetry-track
    #:context-assemble-global-awareness
-   #:loop-process
+   #:process-signal
    #:loop-process
    #:perceive-gate
    #:probabilistic-gate
@@ -64,8 +64,9 @@
    #:act-gate
    #:reason-gate
    #:dispatch-gate
+   #:register-pre-reason-handler
    #:inject-stimulus
-   #:initialize-actuators
+   #:actuator-initialize
    #:dispatch-action
    #:register-actuator
    #:load-skill-from-org
diff --git a/lisp/core-loop-act.lisp b/lisp/core-loop-act.lisp
index c4ec715..e221653 100644
--- a/lisp/core-loop-act.lisp
+++ b/lisp/core-loop-act.lisp
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@
           (t (format nil "TOOL [~a] RESULT: ~s" tool-name result))))
       (format nil "TOOL [~a] RESULT: ~a" tool-name result)))
 
+;; Alias: act-gate → loop-gate-act
+(defun act-gate (signal)
+  (loop-gate-act signal))
+
 (defun loop-gate-act (signal)
   "Final stage of the metabolic pipeline: Actuation.
 For approval-required actions, creates a Flight Plan instead of executing."
@@ -106,21 +110,20 @@ For approval-required actions, creates a Flight Plan instead of executing."
          (source (getf meta :source))
          (feedback nil))
     ;; HITL: if the approved action requires human approval,
-    ;; create a Flight Plan and notify the user via their client.
+    ;; create a Flight Plan (Emacs) and HITL entry (all gateways).
     (when (and approved
                (eq (getf approved :level) :approval-required))
       (let* ((payload (getf approved :payload))
-             (blocked-action (getf payload :action)))
-        (log-message "ACT: Action requires approval — creating Flight Plan")
+             (blocked-action (getf payload :action))
+             (hitl (hitl-create blocked-action)))
+        (log-message "ACT: Action requires approval — creating Flight Plan + HITL (~a)" (getf hitl :token))
         (dispatcher-flight-plan-create blocked-action)
         (setf (getf signal :status) :suspended)
-        ;; Dispatch HITL notification to the user's client via the source actuator
         (action-dispatch (list :target source
-                               :payload (list :text
-                                 "HITL: Action requires your approval. Check Flight Plan and set TODO to APPROVED."))
+                               :payload (list :text (getf hitl :message)))
                          signal)
-        (setf approved nil)  ;; Don't execute the original action
-        (setf feedback nil)))  ;; Don't loop back — wait for human
+        (setf approved nil)
+        (setf feedback nil)))
     (when approved
       (let* ((original-type (getf approved :type))
              (verified (cognitive-verify approved signal)))
diff --git a/lisp/core-loop-perceive.lisp b/lisp/core-loop-perceive.lisp
index c932d27..7ff13f9 100644
--- a/lisp/core-loop-perceive.lisp
+++ b/lisp/core-loop-perceive.lisp
@@ -8,6 +8,19 @@
 (defvar *loop-focus-id* nil
   "The Org ID of the node the user is currently interacting with.")
 
+(defvar *pre-reason-handlers* (make-hash-table :test 'eq)
+  "Pre-reason handler registry: sensor keyword → handler function.")
+
+(defun register-pre-reason-handler (sensor fn)
+  "Registers FN to handle signals with SENSOR in the perceive gate.
+FN receives (signal) and returns T if consumed, nil to continue."
+  (setf (gethash sensor *pre-reason-handlers*) fn))
+
+;; Alias for backward compatibility
+(defun inject-stimulus (raw-message &key stream (depth 0))
+  "Alias for stimulus-inject."
+  (stimulus-inject raw-message :stream stream :depth depth))
+
 (defun stimulus-inject (raw-message &key stream (depth 0))
   "Inject a raw message into the signal processing pipeline."
   (let* ((payload (getf raw-message :payload))
@@ -40,12 +53,28 @@
           (skip-event ()
             (log-message "SYSTEM RECOVERY: Stimulus dropped."))))))
 
+;; Alias: perceive-gate → loop-gate-perceive
+(defun perceive-gate (signal)
+  (loop-gate-perceive signal))
+
 (defun loop-gate-perceive (signal)
   "Stage 1 of the metabolic pipeline: Normalize sensory input."
   (let* ((payload (getf signal :payload))
-         (type (getf signal :type))
-         (meta (getf signal :meta))
-         (sensor (getf payload :sensor)))
+          (type (getf signal :type))
+          (meta (getf signal :meta))
+          (sensor (getf payload :sensor)))
+    ;; HITL: intercept approval/denial commands before LLM processing
+    (when (and (eq sensor :user-input)
+               (stringp (getf payload :text)))
+      (let ((text (getf payload :text)))
+        (when (ignore-errors (hitl-handle-message text (getf meta :source)))
+          (log-message "GATE [Perceive]: HITL command processed — ~a" text)
+          (return-from loop-gate-perceive signal))))
+    ;; Pre-reason handlers: dispatch custom sensors to registered skill handlers
+    (let ((handler (gethash sensor *pre-reason-handlers*)))
+      (when handler
+        (when (funcall handler signal)
+          (return-from loop-gate-perceive signal))))
 
     (log-message "GATE [Perceive]: ~a (~a) [Source: ~s]"
                  type (or sensor "no-sensor") (getf meta :source))
@@ -69,7 +98,7 @@
               (:approval-required
                (when (getf payload :approved)
                  (log-message "GATE [Perceive]: Approved Flight Plan re-injected")
-                 (setf (getf signal :approved) t)
+                  (setf (getf signal :approved) t)
                  (setf (getf signal :approved-action) (getf payload :action))))
               ;; Default sensor: pass through without requiring user-input processing
               (otherwise
diff --git a/lisp/core-loop-reason.lisp b/lisp/core-loop-reason.lisp
index 7e40d0a..4678b5a 100644
--- a/lisp/core-loop-reason.lisp
+++ b/lisp/core-loop-reason.lisp
@@ -121,6 +121,10 @@ modified action (for approval-required or pass)."
                              :action approval-action))
         current-action)))
 
+;; Alias: reason-gate → loop-gate-reason
+(defun reason-gate (signal)
+  (loop-gate-reason signal))
+
 (defun loop-gate-reason (signal)
   (let* ((type (proto-get signal :type))
          (payload (proto-get signal :payload))
diff --git a/lisp/core-loop.lisp b/lisp/core-loop.lisp
index efc5fd3..d40a6dd 100644
--- a/lisp/core-loop.lisp
+++ b/lisp/core-loop.lisp
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@
 (defvar *heartbeat-thread* nil
   "Handle to the heartbeat thread.")
 
+;; Alias: process-signal → loop-process (backward compatibility)
+(defun process-signal (signal)
+  (loop-process signal))
+
 (defun loop-process (signal)
   "The entry point to the Metabolic Pipeline: Perceive -> Reason -> Act."
   (let ((current-signal signal))
@@ -111,8 +115,8 @@
       (cl-dotenv:load-env env-file)))
 
   (load-memory-from-disk)
-  (initialize-actuators)
-  (initialize-all-skills)
+  (actuator-initialize)
+  (skill-initialize-all)
   
   ;; Run proactive doctor before starting services
   (diagnostics-startup-run)
diff --git a/lisp/gateway-manager.lisp b/lisp/gateway-manager.lisp
index 89eaae9..ce7297c 100644
--- a/lisp/gateway-manager.lisp
+++ b/lisp/gateway-manager.lisp
@@ -25,12 +25,13 @@
                        (chat-id (cdr (assoc :id chat)))
                        (text (cdr (assoc :text message))))
                   (setf (getf (gethash "telegram" *gateway-configs*) :last-update-id) update-id)
-                  (when (and text chat-id)
-                    (log-message "TELEGRAM: Received message from ~a" chat-id)
-                    (inject-stimulus
-                     (list :type :EVENT
-                           :meta (list :source :telegram :chat-id (format nil "~a" chat-id))
-                           :payload (list :sensor :user-input :text text)))))))
+                   (when (and text chat-id)
+                     (log-message "TELEGRAM: Received message from ~a" chat-id)
+                     (unless (ignore-errors (hitl-handle-message text :telegram))
+                       (stimulus-inject
+                        (list :type :EVENT
+                              :meta (list :source :telegram :chat-id (format nil "~a" chat-id))
+                              :payload (list :sensor :user-input :text text)))))))
           (error (c) (log-message "TELEGRAM POLL ERROR: ~a" c))))))
 
 (defun telegram-send (action context)
@@ -69,12 +70,13 @@
                        (source (cdr (assoc :source envelope)))
                        (data-message (cdr (assoc :data-message envelope)))
                        (text (cdr (assoc :message data-message))))
-                  (when (and source text)
-                    (log-message "SIGNAL: Received message from ~a" source)
-                    (inject-stimulus
-                     (list :type :EVENT
-                           :meta (list :source :signal :chat-id source)
-                           :payload (list :sensor :user-input :text text))))))))
+                   (when (and source text)
+                     (log-message "SIGNAL: Received message from ~a" source)
+                     (unless (ignore-errors (hitl-handle-message text :signal))
+                       (stimulus-inject
+                        (list :type :EVENT
+                              :meta (list :source :signal :chat-id source)
+                              :payload (list :sensor :user-input :text text))))))))
         (error (c) (log-message "SIGNAL POLL ERROR: ~a" c))))))
 
 (defun signal-send (action context)
diff --git a/lisp/programming-repl.lisp b/lisp/programming-repl.lisp
index 4a1a78d..4428f05 100644
--- a/lisp/programming-repl.lisp
+++ b/lisp/programming-repl.lisp
@@ -101,6 +101,30 @@ REPL Skill Commands:
   - Show this message
 "))
 
+(defun repl-handle (signal)
+  "Pre-reason handler for :repl-eval sensor. Evaluates code and
+writes the result back through the reply-stream."
+  (let* ((payload (getf signal :payload))
+         (code (getf payload :code))
+         (stream (getf (getf signal :meta) :reply-stream))
+         (result (multiple-value-bind (val out err)
+                     (repl-eval code)
+                   (if err
+                       (list :status :error :message err)
+                       (list :status :success :value (or val ""))))))
+    (when stream
+      (handler-case
+          (progn
+            (write-sequence (frame-message result) stream)
+            (finish-output stream))
+        (error (c)
+          (log-message "REPL-EVAL: Failed to write response: ~a" c))))
+    ;; Return T to signal the message was consumed
+    t))
+
+;; Register the handler at load time
+(register-pre-reason-handler :repl-eval #'repl-handle)
+
 (defun repl-mandate (context)
   "Returns REPL-first engineering mandate when context involves code editing."
   (let ((raw (or (proto-get (proto-get context :payload) :text) "")))
diff --git a/org/core-communication.org b/org/core-communication.org
index 3f9c191..112ad28 100644
--- a/org/core-communication.org
+++ b/org/core-communication.org
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ The global registry mapping target keywords (~:cli~, ~:telegram~, ~:signal~, etc
 (defvar *actuator-registry* (make-hash-table :test 'equalp)
   "Global registry mapping target keywords to their physical actuator functions.")
 
-(defun actuator-register (name fn) 
+(defun register-actuator (name fn) 
   "Registers an actuator function. Actuators receive: (ACTION CONTEXT)."
   (let ((key (if (keywordp name) name (intern (string-upcase (string name)) :keyword))))
     (setf (gethash key *actuator-registry*) fn)))
diff --git a/org/core-defpackage.org b/org/core-defpackage.org
index 9e27af9..3907118 100644
--- a/org/core-defpackage.org
+++ b/org/core-defpackage.org
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ The package definition. All public symbols are exported here.
    #:context-get-skill-telemetry
    #:telemetry-track
    #:context-assemble-global-awareness
-   #:loop-process
+   #:process-signal
    #:loop-process
    #:perceive-gate
    #:probabilistic-gate
@@ -89,8 +89,9 @@ The package definition. All public symbols are exported here.
    #:act-gate
    #:reason-gate
    #:dispatch-gate
+   #:register-pre-reason-handler
    #:inject-stimulus
-   #:initialize-actuators
+   #:actuator-initialize
    #:dispatch-action
    #:register-actuator
    #:load-skill-from-org
diff --git a/org/core-loop-act.org b/org/core-loop-act.org
index 5c3c6ea..7ff3f9d 100644
--- a/org/core-loop-act.org
+++ b/org/core-loop-act.org
@@ -195,6 +195,10 @@ After dispatch, the gate captures any feedback produced by the actuation (tool o
 
 ;; REPL-VERIFIED: 2026-05-03T13:00:00
 #+begin_src lisp
+;; Alias: act-gate → loop-gate-act
+(defun act-gate (signal)
+  (loop-gate-act signal))
+
 (defun loop-gate-act (signal)
   "Final stage of the metabolic pipeline: Actuation.
 For approval-required actions, creates a Flight Plan instead of executing."
diff --git a/org/core-loop-perceive.org b/org/core-loop-perceive.org
index e1082c2..724eb4a 100644
--- a/org/core-loop-perceive.org
+++ b/org/core-loop-perceive.org
@@ -61,6 +61,30 @@ A global interrupt flag that can be set by any signal. When set, the metabolic l
 (defvar *loop-focus-id* nil
   "The Org ID of the node the user is currently interacting with.")
 #+end_src
+
+** Pre-Reason Handler Registry
+
+Skills register handlers for custom sensors here. When a signal arrives
+with a registered sensor, the handler is called in the perceive gate,
+before the signal reaches the LLM. The handler receives the full signal
+and returns T if the signal was consumed (don't continue to reason)
+or nil if processing should proceed normally.
+
+;; REPL-VERIFIED: 2026-05-03T13:00:00
+#+begin_src lisp
+(defvar *pre-reason-handlers* (make-hash-table :test 'eq)
+  "Pre-reason handler registry: sensor keyword → handler function.")
+
+(defun register-pre-reason-handler (sensor fn)
+  "Registers FN to handle signals with SENSOR in the perceive gate.
+FN receives (signal) and returns T if consumed, nil to continue."
+  (setf (gethash sensor *pre-reason-handlers*) fn))
+
+;; Alias for backward compatibility
+(defun inject-stimulus (raw-message &key stream (depth 0))
+  "Alias for stimulus-inject."
+  (stimulus-inject raw-message :stream stream :depth depth))
+#+end_src
 #+end_src
 
 ** Stimulus Injection (stimulus-inject)
@@ -117,12 +141,28 @@ All signals get tagged with their processing stage (`:status :perceived`) and th
 
 ;; REPL-VERIFIED: 2026-05-03T13:00:00
 #+begin_src lisp
+;; Alias: perceive-gate → loop-gate-perceive
+(defun perceive-gate (signal)
+  (loop-gate-perceive signal))
+
 (defun loop-gate-perceive (signal)
   "Stage 1 of the metabolic pipeline: Normalize sensory input."
   (let* ((payload (getf signal :payload))
-         (type (getf signal :type))
-         (meta (getf signal :meta))
-         (sensor (getf payload :sensor)))
+          (type (getf signal :type))
+          (meta (getf signal :meta))
+          (sensor (getf payload :sensor)))
+    ;; HITL: intercept approval/denial commands before LLM processing
+    (when (and (eq sensor :user-input)
+               (stringp (getf payload :text)))
+      (let ((text (getf payload :text)))
+        (when (ignore-errors (hitl-handle-message text (getf meta :source)))
+          (log-message "GATE [Perceive]: HITL command processed — ~a" text)
+          (return-from loop-gate-perceive signal))))
+    ;; Pre-reason handlers: dispatch custom sensors to registered skill handlers
+    (let ((handler (gethash sensor *pre-reason-handlers*)))
+      (when handler
+        (when (funcall handler signal)
+          (return-from loop-gate-perceive signal))))
 
     (log-message "GATE [Perceive]: ~a (~a) [Source: ~s]"
                  type (or sensor "no-sensor") (getf meta :source))
diff --git a/org/core-loop-reason.org b/org/core-loop-reason.org
index 72607d0..ad13868 100644
--- a/org/core-loop-reason.org
+++ b/org/core-loop-reason.org
@@ -281,6 +281,10 @@ The retry limit prevents infinite loops. If the LLM cannot produce a passable pr
 
 ;; REPL-VERIFIED: 2026-05-03T13:00:00
 #+begin_src lisp
+;; Alias: reason-gate → loop-gate-reason
+(defun reason-gate (signal)
+  (loop-gate-reason signal))
+
 (defun loop-gate-reason (signal)
   (let* ((type (proto-get signal :type))
          (payload (proto-get signal :payload))
diff --git a/org/core-loop.org b/org/core-loop.org
index f415769..e090eb8 100644
--- a/org/core-loop.org
+++ b/org/core-loop.org
@@ -80,6 +80,10 @@ The function handles four failure modes:
 
 ;; REPL-VERIFIED: 2026-05-03T13:00:00
 #+begin_src lisp
+;; Alias: process-signal → loop-process (backward compatibility)
+(defun process-signal (signal)
+  (loop-process signal))
+
 (defun loop-process (signal)
   "The entry point to the Metabolic Pipeline: Perceive -> Reason -> Act."
   (let ((current-signal signal))
@@ -253,8 +257,8 @@ Boot sequence:
       (cl-dotenv:load-env env-file)))
 
   (load-memory-from-disk)
-  (initialize-actuators)
-  (initialize-all-skills)
+  (actuator-initialize)
+  (skill-initialize-all)
   
   ;; Run proactive doctor before starting services
   (diagnostics-startup-run)
diff --git a/org/gateway-manager.org b/org/gateway-manager.org
index 5b6d18a..868e4fb 100644
--- a/org/gateway-manager.org
+++ b/org/gateway-manager.org
@@ -60,12 +60,13 @@ Registration of available gateway implementations: each platform registers its p
                        (chat-id (cdr (assoc :id chat)))
                        (text (cdr (assoc :text message))))
                   (setf (getf (gethash "telegram" *gateway-configs*) :last-update-id) update-id)
-                  (when (and text chat-id)
-                    (log-message "TELEGRAM: Received message from ~a" chat-id)
-                    (inject-stimulus
-                     (list :type :EVENT
-                           :meta (list :source :telegram :chat-id (format nil "~a" chat-id))
-                           :payload (list :sensor :user-input :text text)))))))
+                   (when (and text chat-id)
+                     (log-message "TELEGRAM: Received message from ~a" chat-id)
+                     (unless (ignore-errors (hitl-handle-message text :telegram))
+                       (stimulus-inject
+                        (list :type :EVENT
+                              :meta (list :source :telegram :chat-id (format nil "~a" chat-id))
+                              :payload (list :sensor :user-input :text text)))))))
           (error (c) (log-message "TELEGRAM POLL ERROR: ~a" c))))))
 
 #+end_src
@@ -117,12 +118,13 @@ Registration of available gateway implementations: each platform registers its p
                        (source (cdr (assoc :source envelope)))
                        (data-message (cdr (assoc :data-message envelope)))
                        (text (cdr (assoc :message data-message))))
-                  (when (and source text)
-                    (log-message "SIGNAL: Received message from ~a" source)
-                    (inject-stimulus
-                     (list :type :EVENT
-                           :meta (list :source :signal :chat-id source)
-                           :payload (list :sensor :user-input :text text))))))))
+                   (when (and source text)
+                     (log-message "SIGNAL: Received message from ~a" source)
+                     (unless (ignore-errors (hitl-handle-message text :signal))
+                       (stimulus-inject
+                        (list :type :EVENT
+                              :meta (list :source :signal :chat-id source)
+                              :payload (list :sensor :user-input :text text))))))))
         (error (c) (log-message "SIGNAL POLL ERROR: ~a" c))))))
 
 #+end_src
diff --git a/org/programming-repl.org b/org/programming-repl.org
index f04c37c..438ce10 100644
--- a/org/programming-repl.org
+++ b/org/programming-repl.org
@@ -195,6 +195,44 @@ REPL Skill Commands:
     (is (not (null error)))))
 #+end_src
 
+** REPL-EVAL Pre-Reason Handler
+
+Registers a handler for =:repl-eval= sensor signals. When the daemon
+receives a framed message with =:sensor :repl-eval=, this handler
+evaluates the Lisp code directly and writes the result back through
+the reply-stream, bypassing the LLM pipeline entirely.
+
+Since this handler is registered via =register-pre-reason-handler=,
+the perceive gate calls it before any LLM reasoning occurs. The
+handler returns T (consumed), so the signal never reaches Reason.
+
+;; REPL-VERIFIED: 2026-05-03T13:00:00
+#+begin_src lisp
+(defun repl-handle (signal)
+  "Pre-reason handler for :repl-eval sensor. Evaluates code and
+writes the result back through the reply-stream."
+  (let* ((payload (getf signal :payload))
+         (code (getf payload :code))
+         (stream (getf (getf signal :meta) :reply-stream))
+         (result (multiple-value-bind (val out err)
+                     (repl-eval code)
+                   (if err
+                       (list :status :error :message err)
+                       (list :status :success :value (or val ""))))))
+    (when stream
+      (handler-case
+          (progn
+            (write-sequence (frame-message result) stream)
+            (finish-output stream))
+        (error (c)
+          (log-message "REPL-EVAL: Failed to write response: ~a" c))))
+    ;; Return T to signal the message was consumed
+    t))
+
+;; Register the handler at load time
+(register-pre-reason-handler :repl-eval #'repl-handle)
+#+end_src
+
 * Phase E: Lifecycle
 The REPL skill loads at priority 200 (after diagnostics at 100, before utils-lisp at 400).