diff --git a/tools/btoperator.py b/tools/btoperator.py
index d58e9f8..decdf8c 100644
--- a/tools/btoperator.py
+++ b/tools/btoperator.py
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ class SessionMonitor:
         r"PLAYER (\d+) LEFT \(host \d+\) tag='([^']*)'")
     RE_RELAY_READY = re.compile(
         r"PLAYER (\d+) READY \(host \d+\) tag='([^']*)'")
+    RE_RELAY_HELD = re.compile(
+        r"launch HELD -- still loading: (.+) \((\d+)/(\d+) ready\)")
+    RE_RELAY_RESET = re.compile(r"round RESET")
     RE_MESH_EGG = re.compile(r"\[([^\]]+)\] egg sent")
     RE_MESH_RUN = re.compile(r"\[([^\]]+)\] RunMission #(\d+) sent")
 
@@ -82,6 +85,7 @@ class SessionMonitor:
         self.launched = False
         self.stats = ""
         self.seat_info = {}                   # tag -> (callsign, mech) requests
+        self.held_status = None               # "PLAYER 2, 3 (2/4 ready)" while staging
 
     def host_tag(self, host_id):
         i = host_id - 2                       # hostIDs 2..N+1 in egg order
@@ -135,9 +139,24 @@ class SessionMonitor:
                 if tag and self.state.get(tag) != ST_IDLE:
                     self.state[tag] = ST_IDLE
                     changed = True
+            m = self.RE_RELAY_HELD.search(line)
+            if m:
+                self.held_status = "%s still loading (%s/%s ready)" % (
+                    m.group(1), m.group(2), m.group(3))
+                changed = True
+            if self.RE_RELAY_RESET.search(line):
+                # BETWEEN ROUNDS: re-arm the console for the next launch.  The
+                # old re-arm rode "WAITING FOR OPERATOR" which only prints on a
+                # FULL-roster ACK -- in launch-with-whoever mode the button
+                # stayed dead after round 1 (field report 2026-07-23).
+                self.launched = False
+                self.ready = False
+                self.held_status = None
+                changed = True
             m = self.RE_RELAY_RUN.search(line)
             if m and int(m.group(1)) >= 2:
                 self.launched = True
+                self.held_status = None
                 for t in self.state:
                     if self.state[t] == ST_REGISTERED:
                         self.state[t] = ST_LAUNCHED
@@ -755,21 +774,25 @@ class Operator(QMainWindow):
         for tag, state in self.monitor.state.items():
             parts.append('<span style="color:%s">⬤</span> %s <i>%s</i>'
                          % (ST_COLORS[state], tag, state))
-        seated = sum(1 for s in self.monitor.state.values() if s == ST_SEATED)
+        seated = sum(1 for s in self.monitor.state.values()
+                     if s in (ST_SEATED, ST_REGISTERED, ST_READY))
         ready_n = sum(1 for s in self.monitor.state.values() if s == ST_READY)
         if self.monitor.launched:
             head = "LAUNCHED — mission running"
             if (self.console_proc and not self.end_btn.isEnabled()
                     and not getattr(self, "end_sent", False)):
                 self.end_btn.setEnabled(True)
+        elif self.monitor.held_status:
+            head = "STAGING — " + self.monitor.held_status
         elif ready_n:
             head = ("%d pod(s) LOADED+READY — LAUNCH starts them instantly"
                     % ready_n)
         elif self.monitor.ready:
             head = "ALL PODS READY — press LAUNCH MISSION"
         elif seated:
-            head = ("%d player(s) seated — LAUNCH MISSION starts with "
-                    "whoever is here" % seated)
+            head = ("%d player(s) seated (standing by) — LAUNCH starts "
+                    "their loading; the mission fires itself when every "
+                    "light is green" % seated)
         elif self.monitor.relay_mode:
             head = "eggs delivered: %d/%d" % (self.monitor.eggs,
                                               len(self.monitor.tags))