diff --git a/plugins/violin_guard/handlers/target_handlers.py b/plugins/violin_guard/handlers/target_handlers.py
index 3ac96d5..b0ba22f 100644
--- a/plugins/violin_guard/handlers/target_handlers.py
+++ b/plugins/violin_guard/handlers/target_handlers.py
@@ -40,32 +40,18 @@ def handle_target(a, **kwargs):
     return _json("ok", value=value)
 
 
-@_serialise_errors
-def handle_status(a, **kwargs):
-    if not str(a.get("eng_dir") or "").strip():
-        raise ValueError("eng_dir is required")
-    eng_dir = state.resolve_eng_dir(a.get("eng_dir", ""))
-    bootstrap_result = bootstrap.check_bootstrap(eng_dir, auto_repair=False)
-    tasks = ptt.parse_ptt(eng_dir / "state" / "ptt.md")
-    ptt_result = ptt.validate_ptt(tasks)
-    active = ptt.find_active_task(tasks) if not ptt_result.errors else None
-    current_phase = active.phase if active else None
-    pending = state.get_pending_sync(eng_dir)
-    credit_limit = int(
-        (pending or {}).get("credit_limit") or state.sync_credit_limit(current_phase)
-    )
-    credit = state.sync_credit_remaining(eng_dir, current_phase)
-    counts = state.read_counts(eng_dir)
-    session_id = state.resolve_session_id(eng_dir)
-    marker = eng_dir / "state" / f".skill-loaded-{session_id}" if session_id else None
-    legacy_marker = str(marker) if marker and marker.is_file() else None
-    binding, binding_reason = (
-        binding_readiness(eng_dir, task_id=active.id, session_id=session_id)
-        if active and session_id
-        else (None, "no active task or session")
-    )
-    route = resolve_skill_route(current_phase or "RECON")
-
+def _evaluate_status_blockers(
+    eng_dir: Path,
+    bootstrap_result,
+    ptt_result,
+    active,
+    session_id: str | None,
+    binding_reason: str | None,
+    pending: dict | None,
+    credit: int,
+    current_phase: str | None,
+) -> list[dict]:
+    """Evaluate and collect all current engagement workflow blockers."""
     blockers = [
         {
             "code": "bootstrap",
@@ -125,8 +111,12 @@ def handle_status(a, **kwargs):
                     "next_action": "Review engagement state, then call violin_heartbeat_done",
                 }
             )
+    return blockers
 
-    phase_requirements = {
+
+def _build_phase_requirements() -> dict:
+    """Build requirement mapping for all phases."""
+    return {
         phase.value: {
             "ptt_phase": "EXPLOITATION" if phase is Phase.POST_EXPLOITATION else phase.value,
             "hypothesis_required": requires_hypothesis(phase),
@@ -135,10 +125,75 @@ def handle_status(a, **kwargs):
         }
         for phase in Phase
     }
+
+
+def _build_status_skill_summary(
+    session_id: str | None,
+    binding,
+    binding_reason: str | None,
+    route,
+    legacy_marker: str | None,
+) -> dict:
+    """Format skill binding and route summary dictionary."""
+    return {
+        "session_id": session_id or None,
+        "binding": binding,
+        "binding_ready": binding_reason is None,
+        "binding_reason": binding_reason,
+        "route_candidates": list(route.allowed),
+        "legacy_marker": legacy_marker,
+        "legacy_marker_status": "obsolete" if legacy_marker else "absent",
+        "recovery": (
+            "Select a route candidate with violin_record_ptt; repeat after the preparation "
+            "result returns to the model"
+        ),
+    }
+
+
+@_serialise_errors
+def handle_status(a, **kwargs):
+    if not str(a.get("eng_dir") or "").strip():
+        raise ValueError("eng_dir is required")
+    eng_dir = state.resolve_eng_dir(a.get("eng_dir", ""))
+    bootstrap_result = bootstrap.check_bootstrap(eng_dir, auto_repair=False)
+    tasks = ptt.parse_ptt(eng_dir / "state" / "ptt.md")
+    ptt_result = ptt.validate_ptt(tasks)
+    active = ptt.find_active_task(tasks) if not ptt_result.errors else None
+    current_phase = active.phase if active else None
+    pending = state.get_pending_sync(eng_dir)
+    credit_limit = int(
+        (pending or {}).get("credit_limit") or state.sync_credit_limit(current_phase)
+    )
+    credit = state.sync_credit_remaining(eng_dir, current_phase)
+    counts = state.read_counts(eng_dir)
+    session_id = state.resolve_session_id(eng_dir)
+    marker = eng_dir / "state" / f".skill-loaded-{session_id}" if session_id else None
+    legacy_marker = str(marker) if marker and marker.is_file() else None
+    binding, binding_reason = (
+        binding_readiness(eng_dir, task_id=active.id, session_id=session_id)
+        if active and session_id
+        else (None, "no active task or session")
+    )
+    route = resolve_skill_route(current_phase or "RECON")
+
+    blockers = _evaluate_status_blockers(
+        eng_dir,
+        bootstrap_result,
+        ptt_result,
+        active,
+        session_id,
+        binding_reason,
+        pending,
+        credit,
+        current_phase,
+    )
+    phase_requirements = _build_phase_requirements()
     pending_commands = [
         {"command": item.get("command", ""), "required_phase": item.get("phase", "")}
         for item in (pending or {}).get("commands") or []
     ]
+    heartbeat_pending = state.has_heartbeat_pending(eng_dir)
+
     return _json(
         "blocked" if blockers else "ok",
         engagement=str(eng_dir),
@@ -165,18 +220,8 @@ def handle_status(a, **kwargs):
         heartbeat_reason=state.get_heartbeat_reason(eng_dir),
         command_count=counts["commands"],
         message_count=counts["messages"],
-        skill={
-            "session_id": session_id or None,
-            "binding": binding,
-            "binding_ready": binding_reason is None,
-            "binding_reason": binding_reason,
-            "route_candidates": list(route.allowed),
-            "legacy_marker": legacy_marker,
-            "legacy_marker_status": "obsolete" if legacy_marker else "absent",
-            "recovery": (
-                "Select a route candidate with violin_record_ptt; repeat after the preparation "
-                "result returns to the model"
-            ),
-        },
+        skill=_build_status_skill_summary(
+            session_id, binding, binding_reason, route, legacy_marker
+        ),
         runtime=runtime_backend.runtime_readiness(eng_dir),
     )