diff --git a/current/CHECKPOINT-EXTERN-EXPORT.md b/current/CHECKPOINT-EXTERN-EXPORT.md
index c3c6615..8e5efd3 100644
--- a/current/CHECKPOINT-EXTERN-EXPORT.md
+++ b/current/CHECKPOINT-EXTERN-EXPORT.md
@@ -5,9 +5,30 @@ Companion to `current/PLAN-EXTERN-EXPORT.md` — one merged plan: **Part A** add
 every commit, one step at a time per the cadence rule.
 
 ## Last completed step
-**Phase 5.0 prereq — extern C-variadic tail** (xfail `9a2c78d` → fix `0fdc821`) —
-the SECOND (and last) deferred fn-path prerequisite. **BOTH fn-path prereqs now
-done.** The C-variadic `...` handling was keyed on the `#foreign` (`foreign_expr`)
+**Phase 5.0 prereqs 3 & 4 — plain-free classification + extern lib-ref validation**
+(plain-free: xfail `2706521` → fix `3c94c14`; lib-ref: xfail `38c3240` → fix
+`ad6aed3`). Two MORE extern/#foreign divergences found while de-risking the fn-path
+flip, both now closed. **FOUR prereqs total now done — the fn-decl `#foreign`→`extern`
+flip is fully de-risked.**
+- **Prereq 3 (plain-free):** `isPlainFreeFn`/`isPlainFreeFnDecl` (resolver.zig:178,
+  generic.zig:815) excluded a `#foreign` body but classified an empty-block `extern`
+  fn as a plain free fn — so existing extern fns were wrongly counted in the bare-call
+  ambiguity verdict (example: two same-name `extern libc "abs"` authors errored
+  ambiguous, while the `#foreign` twin 0729 compiles). Both predicates now also
+  exclude `extern_export == .extern_`; `export` (real body) stays plain-free. Example
+  **1230**.
+- **Prereq 4 (lib-ref validation):** `checkForeignRefs` (c_import.zig) validated only
+  `foreign_expr.library_ref`, so a bogus `extern nosuchunit "abs"` compiled silently
+  while `#foreign nosuchunit` errors (1620). Now reads the lib ref from EITHER spelling
+  and names the surface keyword in the diagnostic (so 1620 stays byte-unchanged).
+  Example **1231**.
+- Two OTHER classifying sites probed and found BENIGN for extern (no flip prereq):
+  namespace/qualified dispatch (`registerQualifiedFn` decl.zig:2208, namespace gate
+  call.zig:729) — a namespaced `extern` fn resolves identically to its `#foreign` twin
+  (probe: `cm.c_abs(-9)` → 9 both ways; the registered qualified alias resolves to the
+  same extern symbol).
+
+### Prior: Phase 5.0 prereq — extern C-variadic tail (xfail `9a2c78d` → fix `0fdc821`) — the SECOND deferred fn-path prerequisite. **BOTH original fn-path prereqs done.** The C-variadic `...` handling was keyed on the `#foreign` (`foreign_expr`)
 body shape at two sites — the `is_variadic` drop in `declareFunction`
 (`decl.zig:2097`) and the call-site early-out in `packVariadicCallArgs`
 (`pack.zig:302`). A variadic `extern` therefore kept its trailing slice param and
@@ -111,8 +132,29 @@ AOT), 1227 (export fn rename, AOT), 1348 (objc extern class), 1349 (objc export
 (jni extern class), 1174/1175 (interplay diagnostics).
 
 ## Next step
-**PART B — Phase 5.0, fn-decl `#foreign` body-marker migration** (BOTH prereqs —
-visibility-gate + variadic — are now DONE). Route the fn-decl `#foreign` path so a
+**PART B — Phase 5.0, fn-decl `#foreign` body-marker flip** — fully de-risked (ALL
+FOUR prereqs done: visibility, variadic, plain-free classification, lib-ref
+validation). The flip itself is now small. **AWAITING ONE DESIGN DECISION** (see
+"Open decisions / Decision 7" below) before executing — it determines interim
+diagnostic wording + whether one snapshot churns.
+
+Mechanics of the flip (when greenlit):
+1. `parser.zig:~2081` fn-body `#foreign` arm: build the extern shape
+   (`extern_export = .extern_`, `library_ref→extern_lib`, `c_name→extern_name`,
+   empty-block body) instead of a `foreign_expr` body.
+2. Update parser unit test `parser.zig:4266-4267` (asserts the fn-body `#foreign`
+   builds a `foreign_expr` body with `library_ref "rl"`) to assert the extern shape.
+3. Run the A→B gate (`lower.test.zig`) + full `zig build test`.
+
+**Verified churn surface (NARROW):** IR is zero-churn (all lowering sites coalesce
+`is_foreign`/`extern_export` — confirmed across this stream). The ONLY corpus churn
+is example **1620**'s lib-ref message: a `#foreign`-spelled decl becomes the extern
+AST, so `checkForeignRefs` would emit "extern library 'X'…" instead of "#foreign
+library 'X'…". Parser-surface diagnostics (`parser.zig:484/1429`) and runtime-class
+messages are unaffected (they fire on the literal keyword pre-AST). `c_import.zig`
+auto-synthesis STILL builds `foreign_expr` bodies (not migrated this step), so
+`foreign_expr` does not disappear — both shapes coexist, which is why every reader
+had to coalesce. Route the fn-decl `#foreign` path so a
 `#foreign` fn builds the SAME extern AST that postfix `extern` already produces,
 instead of a `foreign_expr` body. This is the highest-value path (the bulk of
 `#foreign` usage). Key sub-questions to resolve before/while routing:
@@ -201,8 +243,33 @@ Part A ratified (bare / postfix / `⇒ callconv(.c)` / lib-separate). Part B:
 - **Decision 6 STILL OPEN**: historical carve-out — keep `issues/*.md` (+ design-doc prose)
   as provenance & gate only the live tree (recommended) vs purge everything. The user did
   NOT confirm this at the Part A milestone; confirm before Phase 9.
+- **Decision 7 OPEN — interim diagnostic wording for `#foreign`-spelled decls** (gates the
+  fn-body flip). Once the flip lands, a `#foreign`-spelled fn builds the extern AST, so any
+  diagnostic that reads the unified AST can no longer tell the user wrote `#foreign` vs
+  `extern`. Concretely, example 1620's lib-ref error flips "#foreign library…" →
+  "extern library…". Options: **(A, recommended)** accept the narrow churn — regen 1620 as
+  intentional; it aligns with Part B's `extern`-only end state and the interim oddity
+  (`#foreign` source → "extern" message) is cosmetic and short-lived (Phase 8 cutover
+  removes `#foreign`). **(B)** retain a one-bit surface marker on `FnDecl` (`wrote_foreign`)
+  so interim diagnostics stay keyword-accurate (zero churn, small extra plumbing, marker
+  deleted at cutover). Affects only diagnostic wording — IR/behavior identical either way.
 
 ## Log
+- (5.0 prereq plain-free xfail) Added `1230-ffi-extern-same-name-authors` (two flat
+  authors of `absval` via `extern libc "abs"`; the `extern` twin of `#foreign` 0729).
+  RED — extern authors wrongly counted as ambiguous (646/1 fail). `test`/xfail `2706521`.
+- (5.0 prereq plain-free fix) `isPlainFreeFn`/`isPlainFreeFnDecl` now also exclude
+  `extern_export == .extern_` (external C symbol, no sx body; name-keyed first-wins like
+  `#foreign`); `export` stays plain-free. 1230 green (`absval = 7`). Suite green (646/444).
+  `fix`/green `3c94c14`.
+- (5.0 prereq lib-ref xfail) Added `1231-ffi-extern-undeclared-lib` (`extern nosuchunit
+  "abs"` — bogus lib ref). RED — compiles silently (extern lib ref unvalidated).
+  `test`/xfail `38c3240`.
+- (5.0 prereq lib-ref fix) `checkForeignRefs` (c_import.zig) now reads the lib ref from
+  either spelling (foreign_expr.library_ref OR extern_lib) and names the surface keyword,
+  so 1620 (#foreign) is byte-unchanged and 1231 (extern) gets "extern library … not
+  declared". 1231 green. Suite green (647/444). `fix`/green `ad6aed3`. **ALL FOUR fn-path
+  prereqs DONE → fn-body flip de-risked; awaiting Decision 7 (interim wording).**
 - (5.0 prereq variadic xfail) Added `1229-ffi-extern-cvariadic` (JIT `#source`,
   int-sum + double-avg, `extern` C-variadic). Expected snapshot pins the DESIRED
   correct output. RED (variadic `extern` slice-packs extras → garbage: