diff --git a/ceo/HEARTBEAT.md b/ceo/HEARTBEAT.md
index ecf4f42..292f5f8 100644
--- a/ceo/HEARTBEAT.md
+++ b/ceo/HEARTBEAT.md
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 Do these steps in order. Do not skip any. Do not ask for input.
 
+> **Environment variables** (`PAPERCLIP_API_KEY`, `PAPERCLIP_API_URL`, `PAPERCLIP_RUN_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_AGENT_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_COMPANY_ID`) are pre-injected and valid for this run. **Do NOT inspect, decode, verify, or debug them.** Use them directly in commands. If an API call returns 401, the run token has expired — exit the heartbeat cleanly instead of retrying or debugging.
+
 ### 1. Load your operating context
 
 Read the Paperclip skill to understand how to interact with this system:
diff --git a/cmo/HEARTBEAT.md b/cmo/HEARTBEAT.md
index 4ff5806..dcf3b15 100644
--- a/cmo/HEARTBEAT.md
+++ b/cmo/HEARTBEAT.md
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 Do these steps in order. Do not skip any. Do not ask for input.
 
+> **Environment variables** (`PAPERCLIP_API_KEY`, `PAPERCLIP_API_URL`, `PAPERCLIP_RUN_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_AGENT_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_COMPANY_ID`) are pre-injected and valid for this run. **Do NOT inspect, decode, verify, or debug them.** Use them directly in commands. If an API call returns 401, the run token has expired — exit the heartbeat cleanly instead of retrying or debugging.
+
 ### 0. Authenticate with GitHub
 
     export GH_TOKEN=$(bash /paperclip/privilegedescalation/agents/get-github-token.sh)
diff --git a/cto/HEARTBEAT.md b/cto/HEARTBEAT.md
index 1128a48..e1f8127 100644
--- a/cto/HEARTBEAT.md
+++ b/cto/HEARTBEAT.md
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 Do these steps in order. Do not skip any. Do not ask for input.
 
+> **Environment variables** (`PAPERCLIP_API_KEY`, `PAPERCLIP_API_URL`, `PAPERCLIP_RUN_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_AGENT_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_COMPANY_ID`) are pre-injected and valid for this run. **Do NOT inspect, decode, verify, or debug them.** Use them directly in commands. If an API call returns 401, the run token has expired — exit the heartbeat cleanly instead of retrying or debugging.
+
 ### 0. Authenticate with GitHub
 
     export GH_TOKEN=$(bash /paperclip/privilegedescalation/agents/get-github-token.sh)
diff --git a/engineering/gandalf/HEARTBEAT.md b/engineering/gandalf/HEARTBEAT.md
index 7ea0750..51780f0 100644
--- a/engineering/gandalf/HEARTBEAT.md
+++ b/engineering/gandalf/HEARTBEAT.md
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 Do these steps in order. Do not skip any. Do not ask for input.
 
+> **Environment variables** (`PAPERCLIP_API_KEY`, `PAPERCLIP_API_URL`, `PAPERCLIP_RUN_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_AGENT_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_COMPANY_ID`) are pre-injected and valid for this run. **Do NOT inspect, decode, verify, or debug them.** Use them directly in commands. If an API call returns 401, the run token has expired — exit the heartbeat cleanly instead of retrying or debugging.
+
 ### 0. Authenticate with GitHub
 
     export GH_TOKEN=$(bash /paperclip/privilegedescalation/agents/get-github-token.sh)
diff --git a/engineering/hugh/HEARTBEAT.md b/engineering/hugh/HEARTBEAT.md
index a8e745f..0c0db1e 100644
--- a/engineering/hugh/HEARTBEAT.md
+++ b/engineering/hugh/HEARTBEAT.md
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 Do these steps in order. Do not skip any. Do not ask for input.
 
+> **Environment variables** (`PAPERCLIP_API_KEY`, `PAPERCLIP_API_URL`, `PAPERCLIP_RUN_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_AGENT_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_COMPANY_ID`) are pre-injected and valid for this run. **Do NOT inspect, decode, verify, or debug them.** Use them directly in commands. If an API call returns 401, the run token has expired — exit the heartbeat cleanly instead of retrying or debugging.
+
 ### 0. Authenticate with GitHub
 
     export GH_TOKEN=$(bash /paperclip/privilegedescalation/agents/get-github-token.sh)
diff --git a/engineering/regina/HEARTBEAT.md b/engineering/regina/HEARTBEAT.md
index 3cc1cf0..11a81b5 100644
--- a/engineering/regina/HEARTBEAT.md
+++ b/engineering/regina/HEARTBEAT.md
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 Do these steps in order. Do not skip any. Do not ask for input.
 
+> **Environment variables** (`PAPERCLIP_API_KEY`, `PAPERCLIP_API_URL`, `PAPERCLIP_RUN_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_AGENT_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_COMPANY_ID`) are pre-injected and valid for this run. **Do NOT inspect, decode, verify, or debug them.** Use them directly in commands. If an API call returns 401, the run token has expired — exit the heartbeat cleanly instead of retrying or debugging.
+
 ### 0. Authenticate with GitHub
 
     export GH_TOKEN=$(bash /paperclip/privilegedescalation/agents/get-github-token.sh)
diff --git a/marketing/samuel/HEARTBEAT.md b/marketing/samuel/HEARTBEAT.md
index 8080475..f744e12 100644
--- a/marketing/samuel/HEARTBEAT.md
+++ b/marketing/samuel/HEARTBEAT.md
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 Do these steps in order. Do not skip any. Do not ask for input.
 
+> **Environment variables** (`PAPERCLIP_API_KEY`, `PAPERCLIP_API_URL`, `PAPERCLIP_RUN_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_AGENT_ID`, `PAPERCLIP_COMPANY_ID`) are pre-injected and valid for this run. **Do NOT inspect, decode, verify, or debug them.** Use them directly in commands. If an API call returns 401, the run token has expired — exit the heartbeat cleanly instead of retrying or debugging.
+
 ### 0. Authenticate with GitHub
 
     export GH_TOKEN=$(bash /paperclip/privilegedescalation/agents/get-github-token.sh)