diff --git a/.sops.yaml b/.sops.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..359bbd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.sops.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# .sops.yaml — SOPS creation rules for the platform repo (ADR-0007, R-SEC-01).
+#
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# EFFECTIVE LOCATION: this file must live at the REPOSITORY ROOT to govern
+# encryption of secrets under platform/** and apps/**. It is AUTHORED here in
+# bootstrap/sops/ (the security engineer's subtree); the PM/clusters owner
+# installs it at the repo root (copy or symlink). See bootstrap/sops/README.md
+# "Interface / handoff". SOPS discovers .sops.yaml by walking UP from the file
+# being encrypted to the repo root, so it only takes effect from root.
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+#
+# HOW ENCRYPTION WORKS HERE:
+#   - Only committed secrets are encrypted; plaintext never enters git.
+#   - `encrypted_regex` encrypts ONLY the value fields (data/stringData), leaving
+#     keys and structure in cleartext → readable, reviewable diffs (ADR-0007).
+#   - `age` recipient below is the PUBLIC key from age-keygen.sh. Filling it is a
+#     bootstrap step; the matching PRIVATE key is installed in-cluster as the
+#     `sops-age` Secret (age-key-secret.md) so Flux can decrypt at reconcile.
+#
+# TO ENCRYPT A SECRET (operator, not agents):
+#   sops --encrypt --in-place path/to/secret.sops.yaml
+#   # picks up the age recipient + rules below automatically.
+
+creation_rules:
+  # Platform + app Secrets. Convention: encrypted files are named `*.sops.yaml`
+  # or live under a `secrets/` directory anywhere in the tree.
+  - path_regex: (^|/)(platform|apps|catalog)/.*(secret|sops)\.ya?ml$
+    encrypted_regex: "^(data|stringData)$"
+    # >>> REPLACE-ME <<< paste the age PUBLIC recipient printed by age-keygen.sh.
+    # Example shape (NOT a real key): age1qy...placeholder...0abcd
+    age: "REPLACE-ME-AGE-PUBLIC-RECIPIENT"
+
+  - path_regex: (^|/)secrets/.*\.ya?ml$
+    encrypted_regex: "^(data|stringData)$"
+    # >>> REPLACE-ME <<< same age PUBLIC recipient as above.
+    age: "REPLACE-ME-AGE-PUBLIC-RECIPIENT"
diff --git a/bootstrap/flux/README.md b/bootstrap/flux/README.md
index 37f222e..d9f7e45 100644
--- a/bootstrap/flux/README.md
+++ b/bootstrap/flux/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,92 @@
-# bootstrap/flux
+# bootstrap/flux — Flux bootstrap → `clusters/dev` (Phase 1, T-1.4)
 
-_Phase 1 (T-1.x) — to be authored on execution go. See infra/PHASE1-SCOPE.md._
+Points Flux at the authored **`clusters/dev`** entrypoint and turns on SOPS decryption.
+Spec: [ADR-0004 (Flux)](../../../home-network-k3s/decisions/adr-0004-gitops-flux.md),
+[docs/05](../../../home-network-k3s/docs/05-gitops-and-delivery.md) · Requirements: **R-GITOPS-01**
+(pull-based reconcile), **R-GITOPS-03** (drift correction), **R-SEC-01** (SOPS decryption).
+
+> **AUTHOR-ONLY. Nothing in this directory has been executed.** No `flux`, `kubectl`, key-gen, or
+> cluster contact was run. These are files + runbooks the PM/operator validates and runs.
+
+## Files
+| File | Purpose |
+|---|---|
+| `bootstrap.sh` | **The single bootstrap entrypoint** the Infra worker's final Ansible play calls. `flux install` → verify `sops-age` Secret → `kubectl apply -k clusters/dev`. |
+| `patches/platform-sops-decryption.yaml` | Strategic-merge patch enabling `decryption.provider: sops` + `secretRef: sops-age` on the `platform` Kustomization (realises the base TODO). |
+| `patches/apps-sops-decryption.yaml` | Same, for the `apps` Kustomization. |
+| `patches/flux-system-source-url.yaml` | Overrides the `flux-system` GitRepository `url` placeholder with the real bootstrap source (template — fill at bootstrap). |
+
+## Why `flux install` + apply, not `flux bootstrap git` (Phase 1)
+
+The reconciliation graph is **already authored** in `clusters/base` (read-only to this worker):
+`flux-system.yaml` is the `flux-system` **GitRepository**; `platform.yaml`/`apps.yaml` are the Flux
+**Kustomizations**; `clusters/dev` is the overlay that patches `cluster-vars` (R-ENV-02).
+
+`flux bootstrap git` **generates and owns its own** `gotk-sync` GitRepository + Kustomization named
+`flux-system` and commits them into the repo — which would **duplicate/conflict** with the authored
+base. It also requires a **writable remote git host**, which does not exist in Phase 1 (spec docs/05
+"Source-of-truth", CONTRIBUTING.md: bring-up is from a local/out-of-band bootstrap source; Gitea
+arrives in Phase 6). So Phase 1 uses `flux install` (controllers only) + `kubectl apply -k
+clusters/dev` (materialise the authored graph). This **reconciles with** `clusters/base` instead of
+regenerating it.
+
+## Bootstrap order (what runs, in sequence)
+
+```
+tofu apply → cloud-init → Ansible (k3s + Cilium)          [Infra worker, T-1.1..1.3]
+        │
+        ▼  (final Ansible play calls the entrypoints below)
+1. bootstrap/sops/age-keygen.sh          # operator generates age key OUTSIDE repo
+2. bootstrap/sops/age-key-secret.md      # operator installs private key as sops-age Secret
+3. bootstrap/flux/bootstrap.sh           # flux install → verify sops-age → apply -k clusters/dev
+        │
+        ▼
+Flux reconciles: GitRepository(flux-system) → Kustomization(platform) → Kustomization(apps),
+with SOPS decryption enabled (patches/) and cluster-vars overlay (R-ENV-02).
+```
+
+## Interface note — for the Infra worker (T-1.3 Ansible)
+
+**Single entrypoint your final play calls:** `bootstrap/flux/bootstrap.sh` (run inside the
+`infra/devcontainer` toolchain so pinned `flux`/`kubectl` are on PATH; `FLUX_VERSION`/`SOPS_VERSION`
+live in `infra/devcontainer/versions.env`).
+
+**Order your play must enforce** (the age key is a hard dependency of a working decrypt):
+1. `bootstrap/sops/age-keygen.sh` (operator step — generates key outside repo).
+2. Install the `sops-age` Secret per `bootstrap/sops/age-key-secret.md` (the `kubectl create secret`
+   template). `bootstrap.sh` **fails fast** if this Secret is absent.
+3. `bootstrap/flux/bootstrap.sh` (this entrypoint).
+
+`bootstrap.sh` is idempotent-friendly (`flux install` and `kubectl apply -k` re-run safely) and
+never handles key material — it only *verifies* the Secret exists.
+
+## Handoff — clusters owner / PM (files this worker may not edit)
+
+`clusters/` is out of this worker's write scope, so three wirings are delivered as patches here and
+must be applied into the `clusters/dev` overlay (`clusters/dev/kustomization.yaml` `patches:`):
+
+```yaml
+patches:
+  - path: ../../bootstrap/flux/patches/flux-system-source-url.yaml    # real source URL
+  - path: ../../bootstrap/flux/patches/platform-sops-decryption.yaml  # SOPS on platform
+  - path: ../../bootstrap/flux/patches/apps-sops-decryption.yaml      # SOPS on apps
+```
+
+Alternatively the base TODOs in `clusters/base/{platform,apps}.yaml` and the `url` in
+`clusters/base/flux-system.yaml` can be filled in directly (same effect) — the clusters owner's call.
+Either way the `sops-age` `secretRef` name and `flux-system` source name are kept in lockstep with
+the authored base.
+
+## Phase-6 cutover (WS-GITOPS — NOT now)
+
+Once Gitea is stable, migrate the source to Gitea (docs/05, CONTRIBUTING.md). At that point
+`flux bootstrap git` becomes appropriate (there is a writable remote to own):
+
+```bash
+# ILLUSTRATIVE — Phase 6, not run in Phase 1.
+flux bootstrap git \
+  --url=https://gitea.home.keithjackson.dev/<org>/home-network-k3s-impl.git \
+  --branch=main \
+  --path=clusters/dev
+```
+Keep an off-cluster mirror so a source-of-truth outlives the cluster (docs/05 "Circularity & DR").
diff --git a/bootstrap/flux/bootstrap.sh b/bootstrap/flux/bootstrap.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d1e8b87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bootstrap/flux/bootstrap.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# bootstrap.sh — the SINGLE Flux + SOPS bootstrap entrypoint for the dev cluster.
+#
+# Phase 1, T-1.4 · ADR-0004 (Flux) · ADR-0007 (SOPS+age) · R-GITOPS-01 · R-SEC-01.
+# =============================================================================
+#   *** AUTHORED, NOT RUN. The Infra worker's FINAL Ansible play invokes this   ***
+#   *** (interface contract, see ../README.md). Agents must not execute it.     ***
+# =============================================================================
+#
+# WHAT THIS DOES (Phase 1, bootstrap-source method — reconciles from the LOCAL repo, no remote
+# git host exists yet per spec docs/05 + CONTRIBUTING.md):
+#
+#   1. `flux install`   — deploy the Flux controllers ONLY (source, kustomize, helm controllers).
+#                         We do NOT use `flux bootstrap git` in Phase 1 because that command commits
+#                         and OWNS its own gotk-sync GitRepository+Kustomization named `flux-system`.
+#                         Our entrypoints are ALREADY authored in clusters/base (flux-system.yaml =
+#                         the GitRepository; platform.yaml/apps.yaml = the Kustomizations). Letting
+#                         bootstrap regenerate them would DUPLICATE/conflict. `flux install` +
+#                         applying the authored clusters/dev overlay is the reconciling path.
+#   2. sops-age Secret  — the operator installs the age PRIVATE key out-of-band BEFORE reconcile so
+#                         decryption works on first pass (../sops/age-key-secret.md). This script
+#                         only VERIFIES it exists; it never handles key material.
+#   3. `kubectl apply -k clusters/dev` — materialises the authored reconciliation graph:
+#                         GitRepository `flux-system` (source) -> Kustomization `platform` ->
+#                         Kustomization `apps` (dependsOn platform), with cluster-vars overlay
+#                         (R-ENV-02) and SOPS decryption enabled via the patches in ./patches/.
+#
+# PREREQUISITES the operator/PM resolves before this runs (see ../README.md "Handoff"):
+#   - clusters/base/flux-system.yaml url placeholder is overridden — wire ./patches/flux-system-
+#     source-url.yaml into clusters/dev/kustomization.yaml (or set the URL) so the source is real.
+#   - ./patches/platform-sops-decryption.yaml + apps-sops-decryption.yaml are wired into
+#     clusters/dev/kustomization.yaml `patches:` so decryption is enabled at reconcile.
+#   - .sops.yaml (from ../sops) is installed at the repo root with the real age recipient.
+#
+# PHASE 6 (WS-GITOPS, later — NOT Phase 1): once Gitea is up, cut the source over with
+# `flux bootstrap git` against gitea.home.keithjackson.dev — see ../README.md "Phase-6 cutover".
+#
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# --- config (env-overridable) ------------------------------------------------
+FLUX_ENV_PATH="${FLUX_ENV_PATH:-clusters/dev}"     # dev is the ONLY Phase-1 build target
+FLUX_NAMESPACE="${FLUX_NAMESPACE:-flux-system}"
+SOPS_SECRET_NAME="${SOPS_SECRET_NAME:-sops-age}"
+
+script_dir="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+repo_root="$(git -C "${script_dir}" rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null || cd "${script_dir}/../.." && pwd)"
+
+echo "==> Flux + SOPS bootstrap (dev) — path=${FLUX_ENV_PATH}"
+
+# --- 0. tooling present (from infra/devcontainer; versions pinned there) ------
+for bin in flux kubectl; do
+  command -v "$bin" >/dev/null 2>&1 || { echo "ERROR: '$bin' not found (use infra/devcontainer)." >&2; exit 1; }
+done
+
+# --- 1. install Flux controllers ---------------------------------------------
+echo "==> [1/3] flux install (controllers only)"
+flux install --namespace="${FLUX_NAMESPACE}"
+
+# --- 2. verify the out-of-band age key Secret exists -------------------------
+# We DO NOT create it here (it holds the private key). The operator installs it per
+# ../sops/age-key-secret.md. Fail fast if missing so decryption can't silently no-op.
+echo "==> [2/3] verifying ${SOPS_SECRET_NAME} Secret exists in ${FLUX_NAMESPACE}"
+if ! kubectl -n "${FLUX_NAMESPACE}" get secret "${SOPS_SECRET_NAME}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "ERROR: Secret ${FLUX_NAMESPACE}/${SOPS_SECRET_NAME} not found." >&2
+  echo "       Install the age private key first: bootstrap/sops/age-key-secret.md" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+# --- 3. apply the authored dev entrypoint ------------------------------------
+echo "==> [3/3] kubectl apply -k ${FLUX_ENV_PATH}"
+kubectl apply -k "${repo_root}/${FLUX_ENV_PATH}"
+
+echo
+echo "==> Bootstrap applied. Watch reconciliation with (read-only):"
+echo "      flux get kustomizations --watch"
+echo "      flux get sources git -n ${FLUX_NAMESPACE}"
+echo "    'platform' should go Ready, then 'apps' (dependsOn platform)."
diff --git a/bootstrap/flux/patches/apps-sops-decryption.yaml b/bootstrap/flux/patches/apps-sops-decryption.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..408e8d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bootstrap/flux/patches/apps-sops-decryption.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+---
+# Enable SOPS decryption on the `apps` Flux Kustomization (ADR-0007, R-SEC-01).
+#
+# REALISES the commented TODO in clusters/base/apps.yaml (same pattern as the platform patch).
+# Strategic-merge patch — adds the decryption stanza to the base `apps` Kustomization without
+# forking it (R-ENV-02). `sops-age` Secret referenced BY NAME ONLY (created out-of-band).
+#
+# WIRING (clusters owner / PM): add to clusters/dev/kustomization.yaml `patches:` alongside the
+# platform patch, e.g.
+#     patches:
+#       - path: ../../bootstrap/flux/patches/apps-sops-decryption.yaml
+apiVersion: kustomize.toolkit.fluxcd.io/v1
+kind: Kustomization
+metadata:
+  name: apps
+  namespace: flux-system
+spec:
+  decryption:
+    provider: sops
+    secretRef:
+      name: sops-age
diff --git a/bootstrap/flux/patches/flux-system-source-url.yaml b/bootstrap/flux/patches/flux-system-source-url.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2a18f7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bootstrap/flux/patches/flux-system-source-url.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+---
+# Set the reconciliation source URL on the `flux-system` GitRepository (R-GITOPS-01).
+#
+# clusters/base/flux-system.yaml ships a deliberate placeholder:
+#     url: https://REPLACE-ME.invalid/home-network-k3s-impl.git
+# because the bootstrap-source URL is environment-specific and unknown at authoring time (Phase 1
+# has no remote git host yet — spec docs/05 "Source-of-truth", CONTRIBUTING.md).
+#
+# This strategic-merge patch overrides that URL at bootstrap WITHOUT editing clusters/base
+# (R-ENV-02). Fill spec.url with the actual bootstrap source, then wire this file into
+# clusters/dev/kustomization.yaml `patches:` (clusters owner / PM). See ../README.md.
+#
+# PHASE 6 CUTOVER (WS-GITOPS): change this URL to
+#   https://gitea.home.keithjackson.dev/<org>/home-network-k3s-impl.git
+# and keep an off-cluster mirror (docs/05 "Circularity & DR").
+apiVersion: source.toolkit.fluxcd.io/v1
+kind: GitRepository
+metadata:
+  name: flux-system
+  namespace: flux-system
+spec:
+  # >>> REPLACE-ME <<< actual bootstrap source URL (how the local repo is served to the cluster:
+  # git-over-ssh, a git daemon on the workstation NAT gateway, etc. — set by WS-INFRA/operator).
+  url: https://REPLACE-ME.invalid/home-network-k3s-impl.git
+  ref:
+    branch: main
diff --git a/bootstrap/flux/patches/platform-sops-decryption.yaml b/bootstrap/flux/patches/platform-sops-decryption.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..87108c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bootstrap/flux/patches/platform-sops-decryption.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+---
+# Enable SOPS decryption on the `platform` Flux Kustomization (ADR-0007, R-SEC-01).
+#
+# This REALISES the commented TODO in clusters/base/platform.yaml:
+#     # decryption:
+#     #   provider: sops
+#     #   secretRef:
+#     #     name: sops-age
+# It is a strategic-merge patch (matched by apiVersion/kind/name/namespace) that ADDS the
+# decryption stanza to the existing base Kustomization WITHOUT forking it (R-ENV-02).
+#
+# The `sops-age` Secret is created out-of-band (../../sops/age-key-secret.md); it is referenced
+# BY NAME ONLY here — no key material in git.
+#
+# WIRING (clusters owner / PM — outside the security engineer's subtree): add this file to
+# clusters/dev/kustomization.yaml `patches:` (path-relative), e.g.
+#     patches:
+#       - path: ../../bootstrap/flux/patches/platform-sops-decryption.yaml
+# so the dev overlay reconciles platform manifests with decryption enabled. See ../README.md.
+apiVersion: kustomize.toolkit.fluxcd.io/v1
+kind: Kustomization
+metadata:
+  name: platform
+  namespace: flux-system
+spec:
+  decryption:
+    provider: sops
+    secretRef:
+      name: sops-age
diff --git a/bootstrap/sops/.sops.yaml b/bootstrap/sops/.sops.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..359bbd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bootstrap/sops/.sops.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# .sops.yaml — SOPS creation rules for the platform repo (ADR-0007, R-SEC-01).
+#
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# EFFECTIVE LOCATION: this file must live at the REPOSITORY ROOT to govern
+# encryption of secrets under platform/** and apps/**. It is AUTHORED here in
+# bootstrap/sops/ (the security engineer's subtree); the PM/clusters owner
+# installs it at the repo root (copy or symlink). See bootstrap/sops/README.md
+# "Interface / handoff". SOPS discovers .sops.yaml by walking UP from the file
+# being encrypted to the repo root, so it only takes effect from root.
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+#
+# HOW ENCRYPTION WORKS HERE:
+#   - Only committed secrets are encrypted; plaintext never enters git.
+#   - `encrypted_regex` encrypts ONLY the value fields (data/stringData), leaving
+#     keys and structure in cleartext → readable, reviewable diffs (ADR-0007).
+#   - `age` recipient below is the PUBLIC key from age-keygen.sh. Filling it is a
+#     bootstrap step; the matching PRIVATE key is installed in-cluster as the
+#     `sops-age` Secret (age-key-secret.md) so Flux can decrypt at reconcile.
+#
+# TO ENCRYPT A SECRET (operator, not agents):
+#   sops --encrypt --in-place path/to/secret.sops.yaml
+#   # picks up the age recipient + rules below automatically.
+
+creation_rules:
+  # Platform + app Secrets. Convention: encrypted files are named `*.sops.yaml`
+  # or live under a `secrets/` directory anywhere in the tree.
+  - path_regex: (^|/)(platform|apps|catalog)/.*(secret|sops)\.ya?ml$
+    encrypted_regex: "^(data|stringData)$"
+    # >>> REPLACE-ME <<< paste the age PUBLIC recipient printed by age-keygen.sh.
+    # Example shape (NOT a real key): age1qy...placeholder...0abcd
+    age: "REPLACE-ME-AGE-PUBLIC-RECIPIENT"
+
+  - path_regex: (^|/)secrets/.*\.ya?ml$
+    encrypted_regex: "^(data|stringData)$"
+    # >>> REPLACE-ME <<< same age PUBLIC recipient as above.
+    age: "REPLACE-ME-AGE-PUBLIC-RECIPIENT"
diff --git a/bootstrap/sops/README.md b/bootstrap/sops/README.md
index 5ece3a6..5cd3ad6 100644
--- a/bootstrap/sops/README.md
+++ b/bootstrap/sops/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,37 @@
-# bootstrap/sops
+# bootstrap/sops — SOPS + age key material & decryption wiring (Phase 1, T-1.4)
 
-_Phase 1 (T-1.x) — to be authored on execution go. See infra/PHASE1-SCOPE.md._
+Generates the age keypair, declares SOPS creation rules, and documents how the age **private** key
+is installed into the cluster so Flux can decrypt SOPS at reconcile.
+Spec: [ADR-0007 (SOPS+age)](../../../home-network-k3s/decisions/adr-0007-secrets-sops-age.md),
+[docs/07](../../../home-network-k3s/docs/07-security-and-secrets.md) · Requirement: **R-SEC-01**
+(secrets encrypted at rest in git, decrypted only in-cluster).
+
+> **AUTHOR-ONLY. Nothing here has been executed. No key or secret material exists in this output.**
+> No `age-keygen`, `sops`, or `kubectl` was run. The age keypair is generated later by the operator;
+> `.sops.yaml` carries only a **placeholder** for the public recipient.
+
+## Files
+| File | Purpose |
+|---|---|
+| `age-keygen.sh` | Operator-run script: generates the age keypair to a path **outside the repo**, prints only the **public** recipient. **Refuses** to write inside the repo or clobber an existing key. |
+| `.sops.yaml` | SOPS creation rules (encrypt only `data`/`stringData` → readable diffs). `age:` recipient is a clearly-marked `REPLACE-ME` placeholder filled at bootstrap. **Effective home is the repo root** (see below). |
+| `age-key-secret.md` | Runbook + `kubectl create secret` template installing the age **private** key as the `sops-age` Secret in `flux-system` (the sanctioned out-of-band step). Rotation + DR custody included. |
+
+## How this satisfies R-SEC-01 / ADR-0007
+- Secrets are committed **encrypted** (`sops --encrypt`) using the age **public** recipient in
+  `.sops.yaml`; plaintext never enters git (`.gitignore` guards `age.key`, `*.key`, `*.dec.yaml`).
+- Flux decrypts **in-cluster** using the age **private** key held in the `sops-age` Secret — the one
+  documented out-of-band bootstrap action (docs/07, ADR-0007 Consequences).
+- `decryption.provider: sops` + `secretRef: sops-age` on the `platform`/`apps` Flux Kustomizations is
+  wired by `../flux/patches/` (realising the commented TODOs in `clusters/base`).
+- No key material appears in scripts, docs, PRs, or logs (AGENTS.md §5).
+
+## Interface / handoff
+- **`.sops.yaml` belongs at the REPOSITORY ROOT.** SOPS discovers it by walking up from the file
+  being encrypted, so it only governs `platform/**` and `apps/**` from root. It is authored here (in
+  this worker's subtree); the **PM/clusters owner installs it at the repo root** (copy or symlink).
+  Flagged as an escalation in the T-1.4 report.
+- **Fill two placeholders at bootstrap:** the `age:` recipient in `.sops.yaml` (from
+  `age-keygen.sh`'s output) — same value in both creation rules.
+- **Order** (see `../flux/README.md`): `age-keygen.sh` → install `sops-age` Secret (`age-key-secret.md`)
+  → `../flux/bootstrap.sh`. The Flux entrypoint fails fast if the Secret is missing.
diff --git a/bootstrap/sops/age-key-secret.md b/bootstrap/sops/age-key-secret.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..47def03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bootstrap/sops/age-key-secret.md
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+# Installing the age private key as the `sops-age` Secret (out-of-band)
+
+**Phase 1, T-1.4 · ADR-0007 (SOPS+age) · R-SEC-01 · spec docs/07 "Secrets management".**
+
+This is the **one sanctioned non-GitOps action** in the secrets model (ADR-0007 Consequences,
+docs/07): the age **private** key is bootstrapped into the cluster out-of-band as a Kubernetes
+Secret that Flux's kustomize-controller reads to decrypt SOPS at reconcile time. The key is **never**
+committed (`.gitignore` guards `age.key`, `*.key`); no key material appears in git, PRs, or logs
+(AGENTS.md §5).
+
+> **AUTHOR-ONLY runbook.** Nothing here has been executed. The operator runs these steps once, after
+> the age key exists (`age-keygen.sh`) and Flux controllers are installed (`../flux/bootstrap.sh`).
+
+## Prerequisites
+1. `age-keygen.sh` has been run → private key at `~/.config/sops/age/keys.txt` (outside the repo).
+2. The `flux-system` namespace exists (created by `flux install` / `flux bootstrap`).
+3. `kubectl` context points at the dev cluster.
+
+## Create the Secret (command template — NOT run)
+
+Flux discovers age keys inside the `sops-age` Secret by the **`.agekey` filename suffix**, so the
+data key MUST end in `.agekey`:
+
+```bash
+# Reads the private key file and stores it under data key "age.agekey".
+cat ~/.config/sops/age/keys.txt | kubectl create secret generic sops-age \
+  --namespace=flux-system \
+  --from-file=age.agekey=/dev/stdin
+```
+
+Idempotent re-apply variant (avoids "already exists" on re-runs):
+
+```bash
+kubectl create secret generic sops-age \
+  --namespace=flux-system \
+  --from-file=age.agekey="$HOME/.config/sops/age/keys.txt" \
+  --dry-run=client -o yaml | kubectl apply -f -
+```
+
+- Secret name `sops-age` and namespace `flux-system` MUST match the `decryption.secretRef.name` on
+  the `platform`/`apps` Flux Kustomizations (see `../flux/patches/`).
+- This Secret is created imperatively and is **NOT** in git — it holds the private key, so it must
+  never be committed, encrypted or otherwise. (It is the trust anchor, not a managed resource.)
+
+## Verify (read-only — NOT run)
+
+```bash
+kubectl -n flux-system get secret sops-age                       # exists
+kubectl -n flux-system get secret sops-age \
+  -o jsonpath='{.data.age\.agekey}' | base64 -d | age-keygen -y  # prints PUBLIC recipient only
+```
+
+The printed public recipient MUST equal the `age:` value in `.sops.yaml`. (This command derives the
+public key from the private key; it never exposes the private key.)
+
+## Rotation (documented per ADR-0007 "Key custody/rotation")
+1. Generate a NEW key with `age-keygen.sh` (to a fresh path; the script refuses to clobber).
+2. Add the new **public** recipient to `.sops.yaml` **alongside** the old (multi-recipient), then
+   `sops updatekeys` every encrypted file so both keys can decrypt.
+3. Update the `sops-age` Secret to contain **both** private keys (two `*.agekey` data entries) so
+   Flux can still decrypt existing files during the transition.
+4. Once all files are re-encrypted to the new recipient, remove the old recipient from `.sops.yaml`,
+   `sops updatekeys` again, and drop the old key from the Secret.
+
+## Key custody / DR (ADR-0007: "losing it blocks decryption")
+- The age **private** key is DR-critical: without it Flux cannot decrypt any committed Secret.
+- Keep an **off-cluster** backup of `keys.txt` in the operator's password manager / offline store
+  (NOT in this repo, NOT on the cluster it protects). This mirrors the off-cluster-mirror posture for
+  Gitea (docs/05 "Circularity & DR").
diff --git a/bootstrap/sops/age-keygen.sh b/bootstrap/sops/age-keygen.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..420819b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bootstrap/sops/age-keygen.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# age-keygen.sh — generate the SOPS age keypair for the platform.
+#
+# Phase 1, T-1.4 (ADR-0007 SOPS+age, R-SEC-01). AUTHORED, NOT RUN.
+# =============================================================================
+#   *** THE OPERATOR RUNS THIS, ONCE, AT BOOTSTRAP. AGENTS MUST NOT RUN IT. ***
+# =============================================================================
+#
+# What it does:
+#   - Generates an age keypair to a path OUTSIDE this git repo (default:
+#     ~/.config/sops/age/keys.txt — SOPS's conventional location, honoured by the
+#     SOPS_AGE_KEY_FILE default lookup).
+#   - Prints ONLY the PUBLIC recipient (age1...) to stdout. The public recipient
+#     is safe to paste into bootstrap/sops/.sops.yaml. The PRIVATE key stays in
+#     the file and is NEVER printed, NEVER committed (see .gitignore: age.key,
+#     *.key). Spec docs/07 + AGENTS.md §5: no secret material in logs/PR/output.
+#
+# Hard guarantees:
+#   - REFUSES to write anywhere inside this repository (private key must never
+#     land where git could track it).
+#   - REFUSES to overwrite an existing key file (rotation is deliberate — see
+#     age-key-secret.md "Rotation").
+#
+# Next step after running this: install the private key into the cluster as the
+# `sops-age` Secret — see age-key-secret.md. Then paste the printed recipient
+# into .sops.yaml.
+#
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# --- resolve target path (override with AGE_KEY_FILE) -------------------------
+KEY_FILE="${AGE_KEY_FILE:-${HOME}/.config/sops/age/keys.txt}"
+
+# --- refuse to write inside the repo -----------------------------------------
+# Repo root = git toplevel if available, else two levels up from this script
+# (bootstrap/sops/ -> repo root).
+script_dir="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+if repo_root="$(git -C "${script_dir}" rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null)"; then
+  :
+else
+  repo_root="$(cd "${script_dir}/../.." && pwd)"
+fi
+
+abspath() { # portable realpath for a possibly-not-yet-existing path
+  local p="$1"
+  local d b
+  d="$(dirname "$p")"
+  b="$(basename "$p")"
+  mkdir -p "$d"
+  printf '%s/%s\n' "$(cd "$d" && pwd)" "$b"
+}
+key_abs="$(abspath "${KEY_FILE}")"
+
+case "${key_abs}/" in
+  "${repo_root}/"*)
+    echo "ERROR: refusing to write the age private key inside the repo:" >&2
+    echo "         ${key_abs}" >&2
+    echo "       repo root: ${repo_root}" >&2
+    echo "       Set AGE_KEY_FILE to a path OUTSIDE the repo (default is fine)." >&2
+    exit 1
+    ;;
+esac
+
+# --- refuse to clobber an existing key ---------------------------------------
+if [[ -e "${key_abs}" ]]; then
+  echo "ERROR: ${key_abs} already exists — refusing to overwrite." >&2
+  echo "       Rotating? Move the old key aside deliberately (see age-key-secret.md)." >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+command -v age-keygen >/dev/null 2>&1 || {
+  echo "ERROR: age-keygen not found. Use the pinned dev container" >&2
+  echo "       (infra/devcontainer, AGE_VERSION in its versions.env)." >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+
+# --- generate ----------------------------------------------------------------
+umask 077                      # 0600 key file
+age-keygen -o "${key_abs}" >/dev/null
+
+echo "age private key written (0600) to: ${key_abs}"
+echo "This file is OUTSIDE the repo and must stay that way — do NOT commit it."
+echo
+echo "Public recipient (safe to share — paste into bootstrap/sops/.sops.yaml):"
+age-keygen -y "${key_abs}"     # prints ONLY the public recipient (age1...)
diff --git a/bootstrap/sops/install-age-key.sh b/bootstrap/sops/install-age-key.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..ecb36b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bootstrap/sops/install-age-key.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# bootstrap/sops/install-age-key.sh — install the age PRIVATE key into the cluster as the
+# `sops-age` Secret in flux-system, so Flux can decrypt SOPS-encrypted manifests (ADR-0007,
+# R-SEC-01). This is the scripted form of the runbook in age-key-secret.md, and the entrypoint
+# the Ansible flux_bootstrap role calls (flux_bootstrap_sops_cmd) BEFORE bootstrap.sh.
+#
+# The private key NEVER lives in git. It is read from AGE_KEY_FILE (default: the standard sops
+# age path) and passed to kubectl from a file (not argv). Run at bootstrap by the OPERATOR — not
+# by any agent, and not during author-only Phase 1.
+set -euo pipefail
+AGE_KEY_FILE="${AGE_KEY_FILE:-${HOME}/.config/sops/age/keys.txt}"
+NAMESPACE="${FLUX_NAMESPACE:-flux-system}"
+SECRET_NAME="${SOPS_SECRET_NAME:-sops-age}"
+
+[ -f "$AGE_KEY_FILE" ] || { echo "ERROR: age key not found at ${AGE_KEY_FILE} — run age-keygen.sh first." >&2; exit 1; }
+grep -q 'AGE-SECRET-KEY-' "$AGE_KEY_FILE" || { echo "ERROR: ${AGE_KEY_FILE} contains no AGE-SECRET-KEY." >&2; exit 1; }
+
+kubectl get namespace "$NAMESPACE" >/dev/null 2>&1 || kubectl create namespace "$NAMESPACE"
+
+# Flux reads keys ending in `.agekey` from the sops-age Secret. Idempotent create-or-update;
+# the key is streamed from the file, never placed on the command line / in shell history.
+kubectl create secret generic "$SECRET_NAME" \
+  --namespace "$NAMESPACE" \
+  --from-file=age.agekey="$AGE_KEY_FILE" \
+  --dry-run=client -o yaml | kubectl apply -f -
+
+echo "Installed Secret ${NAMESPACE}/${SECRET_NAME} for Flux SOPS decryption."
diff --git a/clusters/dev/kustomization.yaml b/clusters/dev/kustomization.yaml
index 2598897..d23fa11 100644
--- a/clusters/dev/kustomization.yaml
+++ b/clusters/dev/kustomization.yaml
@@ -9,6 +9,45 @@ kind: Kustomization
 resources:
   - ../base
 patches:
+  # --- SOPS decryption + bootstrap source (PM-inlined from bootstrap/flux/patches/, 2026-08-16) ---
+  # Inlined (not cross-dir file refs) to stay within kustomize's default load restrictions.
+  # Realises the commented decryption TODOs in clusters/base and sets the real source URL.
+  # The `sops-age` Secret is created out-of-band (bootstrap/sops/install-age-key.sh) — name only.
+  - patch: |-
+      apiVersion: kustomize.toolkit.fluxcd.io/v1
+      kind: Kustomization
+      metadata:
+        name: platform
+        namespace: flux-system
+      spec:
+        decryption:
+          provider: sops
+          secretRef:
+            name: sops-age
+  - patch: |-
+      apiVersion: kustomize.toolkit.fluxcd.io/v1
+      kind: Kustomization
+      metadata:
+        name: apps
+        namespace: flux-system
+      spec:
+        decryption:
+          provider: sops
+          secretRef:
+            name: sops-age
+  - patch: |-
+      apiVersion: source.toolkit.fluxcd.io/v1
+      kind: GitRepository
+      metadata:
+        name: flux-system
+        namespace: flux-system
+      spec:
+        # >>> REPLACE-ME at bootstrap <<< how the local repo is served to the cluster
+        # (git-over-ssh / a git daemon on the NAT gateway, etc. — WS-INFRA/operator, OQ).
+        url: https://REPLACE-ME.invalid/home-network-k3s-impl.git
+        ref:
+          branch: main
+  # --- dev-scoped cluster-vars (R-ENV-02) ---
   - target:
       kind: ConfigMap
       name: cluster-vars