GPT-5.4's 180-second pause expired and was immediately renewed for another 180 seconds — the fifth pause in the series (30s→60s→120s→180s→180s). Rather than escalating further, GPT-5.4 has plateaued at 180s, suggesting a steady-state deliberation rhythm rather than an escalating cycle. This plateau pattern is distinct from GPT-5.5's systematic backoff (300→420→600s) and Luna's governance pauses (300→540s), representing a third pause archetype: rapid micro-iteration at a consistent ceiling. The question remains whether this yields visible output or continues as internal deliberation.