diff --git a/BUILD.md b/BUILD.md
index 4dddb47..1b24f82 100644
--- a/BUILD.md
+++ b/BUILD.md
@@ -126,6 +126,17 @@ Two new environment options remove the hardware dependency entirely:
   view; all windows are draggable. This replaces the external
   BitBlt-mirror launcher wrapper.
 
+  Each split window also carries its display's **physical button bank**
+  (geometry per vRIO's `CockpitLayout`): 4 red buttons above and below
+  each MFD glass (RIO addresses descending from the cluster anchor —
+  upper left 0x2F, upper center 0x27, upper right 0x37, lower left 0x0F,
+  lower right 0x07), and 6 amber buttons down each side of the map
+  (Secondary 0x10–0x15 left, Screen 0x18–0x1D right; the columns' other
+  addresses are Tesla relays, not buttons). They **light from the lamp
+  states the game commands** (dim/bright, flash modes animate) and press
+  the corresponding RIO unit with the mouse — active when `PadRIO` is the
+  control device, dark and inert with real serial hardware.
+
 Bindings (vRIO's default profile, condensed):
 
 | Input | Pod control |
diff --git a/MUNGA_L4/L4MFDVIEW.cpp b/MUNGA_L4/L4MFDVIEW.cpp
index 39a0058..178528b 100644
--- a/MUNGA_L4/L4MFDVIEW.cpp
+++ b/MUNGA_L4/L4MFDVIEW.cpp
@@ -2,47 +2,83 @@
 #pragma hdrstop
 
 #include "l4mfdview.h"
+#include "l4padrio.h"
 
 namespace
 {
 	const char mfdViewClass[] = "RPMFDView";
-	const char mfdViewProp[] = "RPMFDViewBlit";
 
-	struct MFDViewBlit
+	const int buttonGap = 4;
+
+	//---------------------------------------------------------------
+	// Button fill colors by lamp brightness (0 off / 1-2 dim / 3
+	// bright), red family for MFD strips, amber for the side columns.
+	//---------------------------------------------------------------
+	COLORREF ButtonFill(int amber, int level)
 	{
-		BITMAPINFOHEADER	header;
-		void				*pixels;
-		int					sourceWidth;
-		int					sourceHeight;
-	};
+		if (amber)
+		{
+			if (level >= 3)	return RGB(255, 210, 48);
+			if (level >= 1)	return RGB(150, 124, 26);
+			return RGB(64, 52, 10);
+		}
+		if (level >= 3)	return RGB(255, 72, 44);
+		if (level >= 1)	return RGB(150, 44, 28);
+		return RGB(64, 18, 12);
+	}
+
+	//---------------------------------------------------------------
+	// Lamp byte -> current brightness level, animating flash modes.
+	// Low 2 bits: solid/slow/med/fast; bits 2-3: state 1 brightness;
+	// bits 4-5: state 2 brightness (the flash alternate).
+	//---------------------------------------------------------------
+	int LampLevel(int lamp_state)
+	{
+		int mode = lamp_state & 0x03;
+		int level1 = (lamp_state >> 2) & 0x03;
+		int level2 = (lamp_state >> 4) & 0x03;
+
+		if (mode == 0)
+		{
+			return level1;
+		}
+
+		static const int half_period[4] = { 0, 500, 250, 125 };
+		return ((GetTickCount() / half_period[mode]) & 1) ? level2 : level1;
+	}
 
 	LRESULT CALLBACK
 		MFDViewWndProc(HWND hwnd, UINT message, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
 	{
+		MFDSplitView *view =
+			(MFDSplitView *) GetWindowLongPtrA(hwnd, GWLP_USERDATA);
+
 		switch (message)
 		{
 		case WM_PAINT:
+			if (view != NULL)
 			{
-				PAINTSTRUCT ps;
-				HDC hdc = BeginPaint(hwnd, &ps);
-				const MFDViewBlit *blit =
-					(const MFDViewBlit *) GetPropA(hwnd, mfdViewProp);
-				if (blit != NULL && blit->pixels != NULL)
-				{
-					RECT client;
-					GetClientRect(hwnd, &client);
-					SetStretchBltMode(hdc, COLORONCOLOR);
-					StretchDIBits(
-						hdc,
-						0, 0, client.right, client.bottom,
-						0, 0, blit->sourceWidth, blit->sourceHeight,
-						blit->pixels, (const BITMAPINFO *) &blit->header,
-						DIB_RGB_COLORS, SRCCOPY
-					);
-				}
-				EndPaint(hwnd, &ps);
+				view->Paint();
+				return 0;
 			}
-			return 0;
+			break;
+
+		case WM_LBUTTONDOWN:
+			if (view != NULL)
+			{
+				view->MouseDown((int)(short) LOWORD(lParam), (int)(short) HIWORD(lParam));
+				return 0;
+			}
+			break;
+
+		case WM_LBUTTONUP:
+		case WM_CAPTURECHANGED:
+			if (view != NULL)
+			{
+				view->MouseUp();
+				return 0;
+			}
+			break;
 
 		case WM_CLOSE:
 			// Part of the cockpit; just hide it.
@@ -56,36 +92,47 @@ namespace
 	}
 }
 
+//########################################################################
+//############################ MFDSplitView ##############################
+//########################################################################
+
 MFDSplitView::MFDSplitView(
 	const char *title,
 	int source_width,
 	int source_height,
-	int client_width,
-	int client_height,
+	int display_width,
+	int display_height,
 	int x,
-	int y
+	int y,
+	ButtonStyle button_style,
+	int anchorA,
+	int anchorB
 )
 {
 	Check_Pointer(this);
 
 	sourceWidth = source_width;
 	sourceHeight = source_height;
+	buttonCount = 0;
+	pressedIndex = -1;
 
 	pixels = new unsigned long[source_width * source_height];
 	memset(pixels, 0, source_width * source_height * sizeof(unsigned long));
 
-	MFDViewBlit *blit = new MFDViewBlit;
-	memset(blit, 0, sizeof(MFDViewBlit));
-	blit->header.biSize = sizeof(BITMAPINFOHEADER);
-	blit->header.biWidth = source_width;
-	blit->header.biHeight = -source_height;		// top-down
-	blit->header.biPlanes = 1;
-	blit->header.biBitCount = 32;
-	blit->header.biCompression = BI_RGB;
-	blit->pixels = pixels;
-	blit->sourceWidth = source_width;
-	blit->sourceHeight = source_height;
-	blitInfo = blit;
+	BITMAPINFOHEADER *header = new BITMAPINFOHEADER;
+	memset(header, 0, sizeof(BITMAPINFOHEADER));
+	header->biSize = sizeof(BITMAPINFOHEADER);
+	header->biWidth = source_width;
+	header->biHeight = -source_height;		// top-down
+	header->biPlanes = 1;
+	header->biBitCount = 32;
+	header->biCompression = BI_RGB;
+	blitHeader = header;
+
+	int client_width = display_width;
+	int client_height = display_height;
+	LayoutButtons(button_style, anchorA, anchorB,
+		display_width, display_height, &client_width, &client_height);
 
 	HINSTANCE instance = GetModuleHandleA(NULL);
 
@@ -126,7 +173,7 @@ MFDSplitView::MFDSplitView(
 
 	if (window != NULL)
 	{
-		SetPropA((HWND) window, mfdViewProp, blitInfo);
+		SetWindowLongPtrA((HWND) window, GWLP_USERDATA, (LONG_PTR) this);
 		ShowWindow((HWND) window, SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE);
 	}
 	else
@@ -141,12 +188,12 @@ MFDSplitView::~MFDSplitView()
 
 	if (window != NULL)
 	{
-		RemovePropA((HWND) window, mfdViewProp);
+		SetWindowLongPtrA((HWND) window, GWLP_USERDATA, 0);
 		DestroyWindow((HWND) window);
 		window = NULL;
 	}
-	delete (MFDViewBlit *) blitInfo;
-	blitInfo = NULL;
+	delete (BITMAPINFOHEADER *) blitHeader;
+	blitHeader = NULL;
 	delete [] pixels;
 	pixels = NULL;
 }
@@ -157,6 +204,171 @@ Logical
 	return pixels != NULL;
 }
 
+//~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+// Compute the display rectangle and the button rectangles, growing the
+// client area to make room for the strips.
+//~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+void
+	MFDSplitView::LayoutButtons(
+		ButtonStyle button_style,
+		int anchorA,
+		int anchorB,
+		int display_width,
+		int display_height,
+		int *client_width,
+		int *client_height
+	)
+{
+	displayX = 0;
+	displayY = 0;
+	displayW = display_width;
+	displayH = display_height;
+
+	if (button_style == MFDStrips)
+	{
+		//-----------------------------------------------------------
+		// 4 buttons above the glass, 4 below; RIO addresses descend
+		// from the anchor, row-major (vRIO CockpitLayout::Mfd).
+		//-----------------------------------------------------------
+		int strip_h = display_height / 8;
+		if (strip_h < 18)	strip_h = 18;
+		if (strip_h > 40)	strip_h = 40;
+
+		int button_w = (display_width - 5 * buttonGap) / 4;
+
+		displayY = strip_h + 2 * buttonGap;
+		*client_height = display_height + 2 * (strip_h + 2 * buttonGap);
+
+		for (int i = 0; i < 8; ++i)
+		{
+			int row = i / 4;			// 0 = top strip, 1 = bottom strip
+			int col = i % 4;
+
+			ScreenButton *button = &buttons[buttonCount++];
+			button->unit = anchorA - i;
+			button->amber = 0;
+			button->x = buttonGap + col * (button_w + buttonGap);
+			button->y = row ? (displayY + displayH + buttonGap) : buttonGap;
+			button->w = button_w;
+			button->h = strip_h;
+		}
+	}
+	else if (button_style == SideColumns)
+	{
+		//-----------------------------------------------------------
+		// 6 buttons down each side of the glass (the pod wires only
+		// 6 of each column's 8 addresses to buttons; the rest are
+		// Tesla relays). Left = anchorA ascending, right = anchorB.
+		//-----------------------------------------------------------
+		int col_w = display_width / 8;
+		if (col_w < 20)	col_w = 20;
+		if (col_w > 40)	col_w = 40;
+
+		int button_h = (display_height - 7 * buttonGap) / 6;
+
+		displayX = col_w + 2 * buttonGap;
+		*client_width = display_width + 2 * (col_w + 2 * buttonGap);
+
+		for (int i = 0; i < 6; ++i)
+		{
+			ScreenButton *left = &buttons[buttonCount++];
+			left->unit = anchorA + i;
+			left->amber = 1;
+			left->x = buttonGap;
+			left->y = buttonGap + i * (button_h + buttonGap);
+			left->w = col_w;
+			left->h = button_h;
+
+			ScreenButton *right = &buttons[buttonCount++];
+			right->unit = anchorB + i;
+			right->amber = 1;
+			right->x = displayX + displayW + buttonGap;
+			right->y = left->y;
+			right->w = col_w;
+			right->h = button_h;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+void
+	MFDSplitView::Paint()
+{
+	PAINTSTRUCT ps;
+	HDC hdc = BeginPaint((HWND) window, &ps);
+
+	RECT client;
+	GetClientRect((HWND) window, &client);
+	FillRect(hdc, &client, (HBRUSH) GetStockObject(BLACK_BRUSH));
+
+	SetStretchBltMode(hdc, COLORONCOLOR);
+	StretchDIBits(
+		hdc,
+		displayX, displayY, displayW, displayH,
+		0, 0, sourceWidth, sourceHeight,
+		pixels, (const BITMAPINFO *) blitHeader,
+		DIB_RGB_COLORS, SRCCOPY
+	);
+
+	for (int i = 0; i < buttonCount; ++i)
+	{
+		const ScreenButton *button = &buttons[i];
+
+		int level = PadRIO::IsActive()
+			? LampLevel(PadRIO::GetLampState(button->unit))
+			: 0;
+
+		RECT rect;
+		rect.left = button->x;
+		rect.top = button->y;
+		rect.right = button->x + button->w;
+		rect.bottom = button->y + button->h;
+
+		HBRUSH fill = CreateSolidBrush(ButtonFill(button->amber, level));
+		FillRect(hdc, &rect, fill);
+		DeleteObject(fill);
+
+		HBRUSH frame = CreateSolidBrush(
+			(i == pressedIndex) ? RGB(255, 255, 255) : RGB(48, 48, 48));
+		FrameRect(hdc, &rect, frame);
+		DeleteObject(frame);
+	}
+
+	EndPaint((HWND) window, &ps);
+}
+
+void
+	MFDSplitView::MouseDown(int x, int y)
+{
+	for (int i = 0; i < buttonCount; ++i)
+	{
+		const ScreenButton *button = &buttons[i];
+		if (x >= button->x && x < button->x + button->w &&
+			y >= button->y && y < button->y + button->h)
+		{
+			pressedIndex = i;
+			SetCapture((HWND) window);
+			PadRIO::SetScreenButton(button->unit, True);
+			InvalidateRect((HWND) window, NULL, FALSE);
+			return;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+void
+	MFDSplitView::MouseUp()
+{
+	if (pressedIndex >= 0)
+	{
+		PadRIO::SetScreenButton(buttons[pressedIndex].unit, False);
+		pressedIndex = -1;
+		if (GetCapture() == (HWND) window)
+		{
+			ReleaseCapture();
+		}
+		InvalidateRect((HWND) window, NULL, FALSE);
+	}
+}
+
 void
 	MFDSplitView::Repaint()
 {
diff --git a/MUNGA_L4/L4MFDVIEW.h b/MUNGA_L4/L4MFDVIEW.h
index 45b3983..0e2f7df 100644
--- a/MUNGA_L4/L4MFDVIEW.h
+++ b/MUNGA_L4/L4MFDVIEW.h
@@ -11,6 +11,16 @@
 // MFDs into the color channels of two video outputs and mounted the map
 // display rotated; on a desktop each display gets its own window instead.
 //
+// Each window also carries its display's physical button bank, exactly
+// as mounted in the pod (geometry per vRIO's CockpitLayout):
+//   - MFDs: a 4x2 cluster - 4 red buttons above the glass, 4 below,
+//     RIO addresses descending from the cluster anchor (top-left = hi).
+//   - The map ("secondary screen"): 6 amber buttons down each side -
+//     Secondary 0x10-0x15 on the left, Screen 0x18-0x1D on the right
+//     (the remaining column addresses are Tesla relays, not buttons).
+// Buttons light from the lamp state the game commands (via PadRIO) and
+// press/release RIO units with the mouse.
+//
 // SVGA16 fills Pixels() (32bpp top-down, sourceWidth x sourceHeight as
 // passed - already swapped by the caller for the rotated map) and calls
 // Repaint(). Closing a view window just hides it.
@@ -18,14 +28,24 @@
 class MFDSplitView
 {
 public:
+	enum ButtonStyle
+	{
+		NoButtons = 0,
+		MFDStrips,			// 4 above + 4 below, addresses descend from anchorA
+		SideColumns			// 6 per side; anchorA = left base, anchorB = right base
+	};
+
 	MFDSplitView(
 		const char *title,
 		int source_width,
 		int source_height,
-		int client_width,
-		int client_height,
+		int display_width,
+		int display_height,
 		int x,
-		int y
+		int y,
+		ButtonStyle button_style = NoButtons,
+		int anchorA = 0,
+		int anchorB = 0
 	);
 
 	~MFDSplitView();
@@ -40,14 +60,53 @@ public:
 	void
 		Repaint();
 
+	// Window-procedure callbacks (public for the registered WndProc)
+	void
+		Paint();
+	void
+		MouseDown(int x, int y);
+	void
+		MouseUp();
+
 protected:
+	void
+		LayoutButtons(
+			ButtonStyle button_style,
+			int anchorA,
+			int anchorB,
+			int display_width,
+			int display_height,
+			int *client_width,
+			int *client_height
+		);
+
+	struct ScreenButton
+	{
+		int	unit;
+		int	x, y, w, h;
+		int	amber;			// 0 = red family, 1 = amber family
+	};
+
+	enum { maxButtons = 20 };
+
 	void
 		*window;			// HWND
 	void
-		*blitInfo;			// MFDViewBlit (header + source dims), see .cpp
+		*blitHeader;		// BITMAPINFOHEADER for StretchDIBits
 	unsigned long
 		*pixels;
 	int
 		sourceWidth,
 		sourceHeight;
+
+	int
+		displayX, displayY,
+		displayW, displayH;
+
+	ScreenButton
+		buttons[maxButtons];
+	int
+		buttonCount;
+	int
+		pressedIndex;
 };
diff --git a/MUNGA_L4/L4PADRIO.cpp b/MUNGA_L4/L4PADRIO.cpp
index eb4dbfe..24bc8b4 100644
--- a/MUNGA_L4/L4PADRIO.cpp
+++ b/MUNGA_L4/L4PADRIO.cpp
@@ -87,6 +87,27 @@ namespace
 //############################### PadRIO #################################
 //########################################################################
 
+PadRIO *PadRIO::activeInstance = NULL;
+
+void
+	PadRIO::SetScreenButton(int unit, Logical pressed)
+{
+	if (activeInstance != NULL && unit >= 0 && unit < buttonUnits)
+	{
+		activeInstance->screenButton[unit] = pressed ? 1 : 0;
+	}
+}
+
+int
+	PadRIO::GetLampState(int unit)
+{
+	if (activeInstance != NULL && unit >= 0 && unit < lampCount)
+	{
+		return activeInstance->lampState[unit];
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
 PadRIO::PadRIO()
 {
 	Check_Pointer(this);
@@ -105,6 +126,7 @@ PadRIO::PadRIO()
 
 	memset(buttonDown, 0, sizeof(buttonDown));
 	memset(lampState, 0, sizeof(lampState));
+	memset(screenButton, 0, sizeof(screenButton));
 
 	invertX = False;
 	invertY = False;
@@ -125,12 +147,18 @@ PadRIO::PadRIO()
 	MajorRevision = 4;
 	MinorRevision = 2;
 
+	activeInstance = this;
+
 	DEBUG_STREAM << "PadRIO: virtual RIO active (XInput pad + keyboard)\n" << std::flush;
 }
 
 PadRIO::~PadRIO()
 {
 	Check_Pointer(this);
+	if (activeInstance == this)
+	{
+		activeInstance = NULL;
+	}
 }
 
 Logical
@@ -290,6 +318,13 @@ void
 			desired[keyboardButtonMap[i].rioUnit] = 1;
 		}
 	}
+	for (int i = 0; i < buttonUnits; ++i)
+	{
+		if (screenButton[i])
+		{
+			desired[i] = 1;
+		}
+	}
 
 	for (int unit = 0; unit < buttonUnits; ++unit)
 	{
diff --git a/MUNGA_L4/L4PADRIO.h b/MUNGA_L4/L4PADRIO.h
index eafce95..5c09895 100644
--- a/MUNGA_L4/L4PADRIO.h
+++ b/MUNGA_L4/L4PADRIO.h
@@ -50,11 +50,24 @@ public:
 		SetLamp(int lampNumber, int state);
 
 	// Lamp state the game has commanded, indexed by RIO lamp number.
-	// A future on-screen panel reads this to light its buttons.
+	// The on-screen cockpit buttons read this to light themselves.
 	enum { lampCount = 64 };
 	unsigned char
 		lampState[lampCount];
 
+	//---------------------------------------------------------------
+	// On-screen cockpit buttons (MFDSplitView strips) press RIO units
+	// through these; they are no-ops when no PadRIO is active (e.g.
+	// real serial hardware selected).
+	//---------------------------------------------------------------
+	static void
+		SetScreenButton(int unit, Logical pressed);
+	static int
+		GetLampState(int unit);
+	static Logical
+		IsActive()
+			{ return activeInstance != NULL; }
+
 protected:
 	void
 		PollInputs();
@@ -69,6 +82,13 @@ protected:
 	int
 		queueHead, queueTail;
 
+	static PadRIO
+		*activeInstance;
+
+	// pressed state driven by the on-screen cockpit buttons
+	unsigned char
+		screenButton[0x48];
+
 	unsigned long
 		lastPollTick,
 		lastPadCheckTick;
diff --git a/MUNGA_L4/L4VB16.cpp b/MUNGA_L4/L4VB16.cpp
index bdc3e35..5d27a5e 100644
--- a/MUNGA_L4/L4VB16.cpp
+++ b/MUNGA_L4/L4VB16.cpp
@@ -3859,30 +3859,50 @@ SVGA16::SVGA16(
 		int frame_h = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYCAPTION) + 2 * GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYFIXEDFRAME);
 		int frame_w = 2 * GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXFIXEDFRAME);
 		int grid_x = init_width + frame_w;
-		int row2_y = cell_h + frame_h;
 
+		// the MFD button strips grow each window (mirror of
+		// MFDSplitView::LayoutButtons so the grid rows still tile)
+		int strip_h = cell_h / 8;
+		if (strip_h < 18)	strip_h = 18;
+		if (strip_h > 40)	strip_h = 40;
+		int mfd_extra_h = 2 * (strip_h + 8);
+		int row2_y = cell_h + mfd_extra_h + frame_h;
+
+		//---------------------------------------------------------------
+		// Button banks per display (addresses per vRIO CockpitLayout,
+		// bank-to-display placement per the pod cockpit):
+		//   upper left MFD 0x2F.. / upper center 0x27.. / upper right
+		//   0x37.. / lower left 0x0F.. / lower right 0x07.. and the map
+		//   flanked by Secondary 0x10-0x15 / Screen 0x18-0x1D.
+		//---------------------------------------------------------------
 		splitView[SplitMFDUpperLeft] = new MFDSplitView(
 			"MFD upper left", init_width, init_height,
-			cell_w, cell_h, grid_x, 0);
+			cell_w, cell_h, grid_x, 0,
+			MFDSplitView::MFDStrips, 0x2F);
 		splitView[SplitMFDUpperCenter] = new MFDSplitView(
 			"MFD upper center", init_width, init_height,
-			cell_w, cell_h, grid_x + (cell_w + frame_w), 0);
+			cell_w, cell_h, grid_x + (cell_w + frame_w), 0,
+			MFDSplitView::MFDStrips, 0x27);
 		splitView[SplitMFDUpperRight] = new MFDSplitView(
 			"MFD upper right", init_width, init_height,
-			cell_w, cell_h, grid_x + 2 * (cell_w + frame_w), 0);
+			cell_w, cell_h, grid_x + 2 * (cell_w + frame_w), 0,
+			MFDSplitView::MFDStrips, 0x37);
 		splitView[SplitMFDLowerLeft] = new MFDSplitView(
 			"MFD lower left", init_width, init_height,
-			cell_w, cell_h, grid_x, row2_y);
+			cell_w, cell_h, grid_x, row2_y,
+			MFDSplitView::MFDStrips, 0x0F);
 		splitView[SplitMFDLowerRight] = new MFDSplitView(
 			"MFD lower right", init_width, init_height,
-			cell_w, cell_h, grid_x + 2 * (cell_w + frame_w), row2_y);
+			cell_w, cell_h, grid_x + 2 * (cell_w + frame_w), row2_y,
+			MFDSplitView::MFDStrips, 0x07);
 		// map is portrait: source rotated 90 degrees clockwise
 		splitView[SplitMap] = new MFDSplitView(
 			"Map", init_height, init_width,
 			cell_h, cell_w,
-			grid_x + (cell_w + frame_w) + (cell_w - cell_h) / 2, row2_y);
+			grid_x + (cell_w + frame_w) + (cell_w - cell_h) / 2, row2_y,
+			MFDSplitView::SideColumns, 0x10, 0x18);
 
-		DEBUG_STREAM << "SVGA16: split views active - 5 MFD windows + rotated map (scale "
+		DEBUG_STREAM << "SVGA16: split views active - 5 MFD windows + rotated map, cockpit buttons on (scale "
 			<< scale_percent << "%)\n" << std::flush;
 	}
 //STUBBED: VIDEO RB 1/15/07
diff --git a/docs/RP412-ROADMAP.md b/docs/RP412-ROADMAP.md
index 4cd8c8c..09708ec 100644
--- a/docs/RP412-ROADMAP.md
+++ b/docs/RP412-ROADMAP.md
@@ -56,10 +56,20 @@ so press-feedback works like the real button field.
   90°-rotated map), rendered CPU-side from the shared gauge canvas — the
   external BitBlt-mirror wrapper is obsolete. Verified visually (MFD score
   readout, full tactical map).
-- Next in A: on-screen RIO panel fed by `PadRIO::lampState[]` (the
-  cockpit-feel layout — vRIO button clusters around the displays); port the
-  full vRIO bindings-file model (deflect/rate/deadzone per axis, rebinding);
-  pilot keypad (numpad → KeyEvent); Steam Input once C starts.
+- ✅ **Cockpit buttons on the displays** (2026-07-12): each split window
+  carries its physical button bank — 4+4 red buttons per MFD, 6 amber per
+  map side (Secondary/Screen columns; addresses per vRIO `CockpitLayout`,
+  placement per the pod). Mouse presses inject into `PadRIO`; the game's
+  lamp commands light them (verified: PRESET lamps lit on the map flank,
+  aligned with the glass's own edge labels).
+- Next in A: port the full vRIO bindings-file model (deflect/rate/deadzone
+  per axis, rebinding); pilot keypad (numpad / on-screen 4×4 → KeyEvent);
+  Steam Input once C starts.
+- Polish pass (queued): **vRIO's Dynamic Lighting RGB-keyboard mirror** —
+  lamp states glow on the physical keyboard's keys (per-key or zone-lit),
+  blinking with the flash modes. Needs package identity for background
+  light control (vRIO's `pkg\Register-vRIO.ps1` pattern; see the vRIO
+  README for the Settings → Dynamic Lighting steps).
 - vRIO itself stays useful as a dev harness against unmodified builds.
 
 ## Workstream B — In-game sessions (from TeslaConsole)
diff --git a/pack-dist.ps1 b/pack-dist.ps1
index d00cbda..6071251 100644
--- a/pack-dist.ps1
+++ b/pack-dist.ps1
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ Controls (XInput controller and/or keyboard):
 The full pod cockpit comes up as separate windows: the main view, five
 green MFD screens, the portrait map, and the orange plasma glass below
 the main view. Drag them wherever you like; closing one just hides it.
+The red buttons around each MFD and the amber buttons flanking the map
+are the pod's real button banks: click them with the mouse, and they
+light up as the game commands their lamps.
 environ.ini options: L4PADFLIP=XY inverts the stick axes, L4MFDSCALE=n
 sizes the MFD/map windows (percent, default 50), L4PLASMASCALE=n sets
 the plasma pixel size (default 4), L4PLASMAPOS=x,y places the plasma.