diff --git a/tools/btconsole.py b/tools/btconsole.py
index 17ae82f..c606b74 100644
--- a/tools/btconsole.py
+++ b/tools/btconsole.py
@@ -729,6 +729,32 @@ class Relay:
             return
         if time.time() < self.launch_at:
             return
+        # ALL-READY GATE (2026-07-22, live finding round 3): firing the
+        # mission while a pod is still LOADING drowns that pod's load in the
+        # running mission's update streams (same event queue) -- the operator,
+        # who always joins last, loaded 5+ minutes or crashed while testers
+        # took ~20s.  Hold the RunMission pair until every REGISTERED pod has
+        # sent READY (route -10): everyone enters together, 1995-style.
+        # Escape hatches: a pod that never readies is announced every 10s
+        # (the operator sees who), and a 3-minute cap force-fires so one
+        # wedged pod cannot hold the night hostage.
+        if self.launches_sent == 0:
+            not_ready = [h for h, c in sorted(self.by_host.items())
+                         if not getattr(c, "ready", False)]
+            if not_ready and time.time() < self.launch_at + 180.0:
+                now = time.time()
+                if now - getattr(self, "_hold_notice_at", 0) >= 10.0:
+                    self._hold_notice_at = now
+                    names = ", ".join(
+                        "PLAYER %d" % (h - FIRST_GAME_HOST_ID + 1)
+                        for h in not_ready)
+                    print(f"[relay] launch HELD -- still loading: {names} "
+                          f"({len(self.by_host) - len(not_ready)}/"
+                          f"{len(self.by_host)} ready)", flush=True)
+                return
+            if not_ready:
+                print(f"[relay] launch FORCED after 180s hold -- "
+                      f"{len(not_ready)} pod(s) never readied", flush=True)
         pkt = run_mission_packet()
         for conn in list(self.console_conns):
             try: