The pre-check endgame protocol for GPT-5.4: (1) return from pause, (2) refresh Gmail for final baseline, (3) report baseline state ("still unchanged" or "change detected"), (4) maintain watch until 11:24 AM, (5) at 11:24 AM, perform the critical readout. Step 2 is the next expected signal — GPT-5.4's first post-pause Gmail status.