diff --git a/frontend/src/components/assistant/IncidentHeader.tsx b/frontend/src/components/assistant/IncidentHeader.tsx
index 38d09220..aca4e1d7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/assistant/IncidentHeader.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/assistant/IncidentHeader.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { useState, useRef, useEffect } from 'react'
-import { Pencil, X, Check, ExternalLink } from 'lucide-react'
+import { Pencil, X, Check, ExternalLink, Pause, XCircle, Link2 } from 'lucide-react'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
+import { toast } from '@/lib/toast'
 import type { TriageMeta } from '@/types/ai-session'
 
 interface IncidentHeaderProps {
@@ -9,7 +10,8 @@ interface IncidentHeaderProps {
   sessionId: string
   onFieldSave: (field: keyof TriageMeta, value: string) => void
   onResolve: () => void
-  onOverflow: () => void
+  onPause?: () => void
+  onClose?: () => void
 }
 
 interface EditPopoverProps {
@@ -95,12 +97,81 @@ function HeaderField({ label, value, placeholder, onSave, isHypothesis }: Header
   )
 }
 
+function OverflowMenu({ onPause, onClose, sessionId }: { onPause?: () => void; onClose?: () => void; sessionId: string }) {
+  const [open, setOpen] = useState(false)
+  const menuRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!open) return
+    const handleClickOutside = (e: MouseEvent) => {
+      if (menuRef.current && !menuRef.current.contains(e.target as Node)) setOpen(false)
+    }
+    const handleEsc = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
+      if (e.key === 'Escape') setOpen(false)
+    }
+    document.addEventListener('mousedown', handleClickOutside)
+    document.addEventListener('keydown', handleEsc)
+    return () => {
+      document.removeEventListener('mousedown', handleClickOutside)
+      document.removeEventListener('keydown', handleEsc)
+    }
+  }, [open])
+
+  const handleCopyLink = () => {
+    navigator.clipboard.writeText(`${window.location.origin}/assistant/${sessionId}`)
+    toast.success('Session link copied')
+    setOpen(false)
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div ref={menuRef} className="relative">
+      <button
+        onClick={() => setOpen(!open)}
+        className="bg-elevated border border-default rounded px-2 py-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground transition-colors"
+      >
+        ⋯
+      </button>
+      {open && (
+        <div className="absolute right-0 top-full mt-1 z-50 w-44 bg-elevated border border-hover rounded-md shadow-lg py-1">
+          {onPause && (
+            <button
+              onClick={() => { onPause(); setOpen(false) }}
+              className="w-full flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-card transition-colors text-left"
+            >
+              <Pause size={12} />
+              Pause Case
+            </button>
+          )}
+          <button
+            onClick={handleCopyLink}
+            className="w-full flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-card transition-colors text-left"
+          >
+            <Link2 size={12} />
+            Copy Link
+          </button>
+          {onClose && (
+            <button
+              onClick={() => { onClose(); setOpen(false) }}
+              className="w-full flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs text-danger hover:text-danger hover:bg-danger-dim transition-colors text-left"
+            >
+              <XCircle size={12} />
+              Close Case
+            </button>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  )
+}
+
 export function IncidentHeader({
   triageMeta,
   psaTicketId,
+  sessionId,
   onFieldSave,
   onResolve,
-  onOverflow,
+  onPause,
+  onClose,
 }: IncidentHeaderProps) {
   return (
     <div className="bg-card border-b border-default px-4 py-2 flex items-center gap-4 flex-wrap">
@@ -146,12 +217,7 @@ export function IncidentHeader({
         >
           Resolve
         </button>
-        <button
-          onClick={onOverflow}
-          className="bg-elevated border border-default rounded px-2 py-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground transition-colors"
-        >
-          ⋯
-        </button>
+        <OverflowMenu onPause={onPause} onClose={onClose} sessionId={sessionId} />
       </div>
     </div>
   )
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/assistant/StepsPanel.tsx b/frontend/src/components/assistant/StepsPanel.tsx
index e059b904..e3560e94 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/assistant/StepsPanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/assistant/StepsPanel.tsx
@@ -1,14 +1,24 @@
-import { Check, ArrowRight, Circle, Terminal } from 'lucide-react'
+import { Check, ArrowRight, Circle, Terminal, ChevronRight } from 'lucide-react'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import type { ActionItem } from '@/types/ai-session'
 
 interface StepsPanelProps {
   actions: ActionItem[]
   activeIndex: number
+  completedSteps?: Set<number>
+  onStepComplete?: (index: number) => void
+  onStepSelect?: (index: number) => void
   onGenerateScript?: () => void
 }
 
-export function StepsPanel({ actions, activeIndex, onGenerateScript }: StepsPanelProps) {
+export function StepsPanel({
+  actions,
+  activeIndex,
+  completedSteps = new Set(),
+  onStepComplete,
+  onStepSelect,
+  onGenerateScript,
+}: StepsPanelProps) {
   if (actions.length === 0) {
     return (
       <div className="flex-1 flex items-center justify-center text-muted-foreground text-sm">
@@ -17,45 +27,100 @@ export function StepsPanel({ actions, activeIndex, onGenerateScript }: StepsPane
     )
   }
 
+  const completedCount = completedSteps.size
+  const totalCount = actions.length
+  const progressPct = totalCount > 0 ? Math.round((completedCount / totalCount) * 100) : 0
+
   const showScriptCta = actions[activeIndex]?.command?.toLowerCase().includes('script') ||
     actions[activeIndex]?.description?.toLowerCase().includes('script')
 
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col h-full">
-      <div className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wider text-accent font-semibold mb-2">
-        Steps
+      {/* Header with progress */}
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-2">
+        <div className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wider text-accent font-semibold">
+          Steps
+        </div>
+        <span className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground tabular-nums">
+          {completedCount}/{totalCount} complete
+        </span>
       </div>
+
+      {/* Progress bar */}
+      <div className="h-1 bg-elevated rounded-full mb-3 overflow-hidden">
+        <div
+          className="h-full bg-accent rounded-full transition-all duration-500 ease-out"
+          style={{ width: `${progressPct}%` }}
+        />
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Steps list */}
       <div className="flex-1 overflow-y-auto space-y-1.5 min-h-0">
         {actions.map((action, idx) => {
-          const isCompleted = idx < activeIndex
+          const isCompleted = completedSteps.has(idx)
           const isActive = idx === activeIndex
-          const isPending = idx > activeIndex
+          const isPending = !isCompleted && !isActive
 
           return (
             <div
               key={idx}
+              onClick={() => onStepSelect?.(idx)}
               className={cn(
-                'rounded px-3 py-2 text-sm flex items-start gap-2.5 transition-colors',
-                isCompleted && 'bg-elevated/50 text-muted-foreground',
+                'rounded-md px-3 py-2 text-sm flex items-start gap-2.5 transition-all duration-200 cursor-pointer group',
+                isCompleted && 'bg-success/[0.06] text-muted-foreground hover:bg-success/[0.1]',
                 isActive && 'bg-elevated border border-accent/30 text-primary',
-                isPending && 'bg-card text-muted-foreground/60',
+                isPending && 'bg-card text-muted-foreground/60 hover:bg-elevated/50',
               )}
             >
-              <span className="mt-0.5 flex-shrink-0">
-                {isCompleted && <Check size={14} className="text-success" />}
-                {isActive && <ArrowRight size={14} className="text-accent" />}
-                {isPending && <Circle size={14} className="text-muted" />}
-              </span>
-              <div className="min-w-0">
-                <span className={cn(isCompleted && 'line-through')}>{action.label}</span>
-                {isActive && action.description && (
-                  <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mt-0.5 leading-relaxed">{action.description}</p>
+              {/* Status icon / complete button */}
+              <button
+                onClick={(e) => {
+                  e.stopPropagation()
+                  if (!isCompleted) onStepComplete?.(idx)
+                }}
+                className={cn(
+                  'mt-0.5 flex-shrink-0 rounded-full transition-all duration-200',
+                  isCompleted && 'text-success',
+                  isActive && 'text-accent hover:text-success hover:scale-110',
+                  isPending && 'text-muted hover:text-muted-foreground',
+                )}
+                title={isCompleted ? 'Completed' : 'Mark as done'}
+              >
+                {isCompleted && <Check size={14} />}
+                {isActive && (
+                  <div className="relative">
+                    <ArrowRight size={14} className="group-hover:hidden" />
+                    <Check size={14} className="hidden group-hover:block" />
+                  </div>
+                )}
+                {isPending && <Circle size={14} />}
+              </button>
+
+              <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+                <span className={cn(
+                  'transition-colors duration-200',
+                  isCompleted && 'line-through opacity-70',
+                )}>{action.label}</span>
+                {/* Show description for active step and on hover for others */}
+                {action.description && (
+                  <p className={cn(
+                    'text-xs text-muted-foreground mt-0.5 leading-relaxed transition-all duration-200',
+                    isActive ? 'opacity-100 max-h-20' : 'opacity-0 max-h-0 group-hover:opacity-70 group-hover:max-h-20 overflow-hidden',
+                  )}>
+                    {action.description}
+                  </p>
                 )}
               </div>
+
+              {/* Active indicator */}
+              {isActive && !isCompleted && (
+                <ChevronRight size={12} className="text-accent/50 flex-shrink-0 mt-1" />
+              )}
             </div>
           )
         })}
       </div>
+
       {showScriptCta && onGenerateScript && (
         <button
           onClick={onGenerateScript}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/assistant/WhatWeKnow.tsx b/frontend/src/components/assistant/WhatWeKnow.tsx
index cb881d01..8b2060dd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/assistant/WhatWeKnow.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/assistant/WhatWeKnow.tsx
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ interface WhatWeKnowProps {
 }
 
 const STATUS_CONFIG = {
-  confirmed: { icon: Check, color: 'text-success', label: '✓' },
-  ruled_out: { icon: X, color: 'text-danger', label: '✗' },
-  pending: { icon: HelpCircle, color: 'text-muted-foreground', label: '?' },
+  confirmed: { icon: Check, color: 'text-success', label: 'Confirmed', tooltip: 'Confirmed — click to cycle, right-click to reverse' },
+  ruled_out: { icon: X, color: 'text-danger', label: 'Ruled out', tooltip: 'Ruled out — click to cycle, right-click to reverse' },
+  pending: { icon: HelpCircle, color: 'text-muted-foreground', label: 'Pending', tooltip: 'Pending — click to cycle, right-click to reverse' },
 } as const
 
 const STATUS_CYCLE: EvidenceItem['status'][] = ['confirmed', 'ruled_out', 'pending']
@@ -30,10 +30,11 @@ export function WhatWeKnow({ items, onAdd, onEdit }: WhatWeKnowProps) {
     setShowAddInput(false)
   }
 
-  const handleStatusToggle = (idx: number) => {
+  const handleStatusCycle = (idx: number, reverse = false) => {
     const item = items[idx]
     const currentIdx = STATUS_CYCLE.indexOf(item.status)
-    const nextStatus = STATUS_CYCLE[(currentIdx + 1) % STATUS_CYCLE.length]
+    const offset = reverse ? STATUS_CYCLE.length - 1 : 1
+    const nextStatus = STATUS_CYCLE[(currentIdx + offset) % STATUS_CYCLE.length]
     onEdit(idx, item.text, nextStatus)
   }
 
@@ -65,9 +66,13 @@ export function WhatWeKnow({ items, onAdd, onEdit }: WhatWeKnowProps) {
             return (
               <div key={idx} className="flex items-start gap-2 text-sm group">
                 <button
-                  onClick={() => handleStatusToggle(idx)}
+                  onClick={() => handleStatusCycle(idx)}
+                  onContextMenu={(e) => {
+                    e.preventDefault()
+                    handleStatusCycle(idx, true)
+                  }}
                   className={cn('mt-0.5 flex-shrink-0 transition-colors hover:opacity-70', config.color)}
-                  title="Click to cycle status"
+                  title={config.tooltip}
                 >
                   <Icon size={13} />
                 </button>
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/AssistantChatPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/AssistantChatPage.tsx
index 57a4aa85..819b524a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/AssistantChatPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/AssistantChatPage.tsx
@@ -84,7 +84,15 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
     const saved = localStorage.getItem('rf-assistant-work-zone-height')
     return saved ? parseFloat(saved) : 55
   })
-  const [activeStepIndex] = useState(0)
+  const [activeStepIndex, setActiveStepIndex] = useState(0)
+  const [completedSteps, setCompletedSteps] = useState<Set<number>>(new Set())
+  const [showOnboarding, setShowOnboarding] = useState(() =>
+    !localStorage.getItem('rf-cockpit-onboarded')
+  )
+  const dismissOnboarding = () => {
+    setShowOnboarding(false)
+    localStorage.setItem('rf-cockpit-onboarded', '1')
+  }
   const splitContainerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
   const toggleSidebarCollapse = () => {
     const next = !sidebarCollapsed
@@ -336,6 +344,7 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
       .map((u) => u.result!.id)
     setInput('')
     setPendingUploads([])
+    if (showOnboarding) dismissOnboarding()
     setMessages(prev => [...prev, { role: 'user', content: userMessage }])
     setLoading(true)
 
@@ -480,7 +489,24 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
     }
   }, [activeChatId, triageMeta.evidence_items])
 
+  const handleStepComplete = useCallback((index: number) => {
+    setCompletedSteps(prev => {
+      const next = new Set(prev)
+      next.add(index)
+      return next
+    })
+    // Auto-advance to the next incomplete step
+    const nextIncomplete = activeActions.findIndex((_, i) => i > index && !completedSteps.has(i))
+    if (nextIncomplete !== -1) {
+      setActiveStepIndex(nextIncomplete)
+    } else if (index + 1 < activeActions.length) {
+      setActiveStepIndex(index + 1)
+    }
+  }, [activeActions, completedSteps])
 
+  const handleStepSelect = useCallback((index: number) => {
+    setActiveStepIndex(index)
+  }, [])
 
   // Merge triage_update from AI response into local state
   const mergeTriageUpdate = useCallback((update: TriageUpdate) => {
@@ -674,11 +700,43 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
               sessionId={activeChatId}
               onFieldSave={handleTriageFieldSave}
               onResolve={() => setShowConclude(true)}
-              onOverflow={() => {}}
+              onClose={() => setShowConclude(true)}
             />
 
             {/* Resizable work zone + conversation log split */}
-            <div ref={splitContainerRef} className="flex-1 flex flex-col min-h-0">
+            <div ref={splitContainerRef} className="flex-1 flex flex-col min-h-0 relative">
+              {/* First-run onboarding overlay */}
+              {showOnboarding && messages.length === 0 && (
+                <div className="absolute inset-0 z-30 pointer-events-none">
+                  {/* Steps zone label */}
+                  <div className="absolute top-3 left-3 pointer-events-auto">
+                    <div className="bg-elevated border border-accent/30 rounded-lg px-3 py-2 shadow-lg max-w-[200px]">
+                      <p className="text-xs font-medium text-accent mb-0.5">Steps Panel</p>
+                      <p className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground leading-snug">Troubleshooting steps appear here as FlowPilot identifies them. Click to mark done.</p>
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                  {/* FlowPilot Asks zone label */}
+                  <div className="absolute top-3 right-3 pointer-events-auto">
+                    <div className="bg-elevated border border-warning/30 rounded-lg px-3 py-2 shadow-lg max-w-[200px]">
+                      <p className="text-xs font-medium text-warning mb-0.5">AI Questions & Evidence</p>
+                      <p className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground leading-snug">FlowPilot asks clarifying questions here. Evidence you confirm or rule out is tracked below.</p>
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                  {/* Conversation log label */}
+                  <div className="absolute bottom-3 left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 pointer-events-auto">
+                    <div className="bg-elevated border border-default rounded-lg px-3 py-2 shadow-lg max-w-[280px] text-center">
+                      <p className="text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground mb-0.5">Conversation Log</p>
+                      <p className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground leading-snug">Full chat history lives here. Drag the handle above to resize.</p>
+                      <button
+                        onClick={dismissOnboarding}
+                        className="mt-2 text-[11px] text-accent hover:text-accent/80 transition-colors pointer-events-auto"
+                      >
+                        Got it, dismiss
+                      </button>
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              )}
               {/* Work zone */}
               <div className="flex min-h-0 overflow-hidden" style={{ height: `${workZonePct}%` }}>
                 {/* Left: Steps panel */}
@@ -686,6 +744,9 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
                   <StepsPanel
                     actions={activeActions}
                     activeIndex={activeStepIndex}
+                    completedSteps={completedSteps}
+                    onStepComplete={handleStepComplete}
+                    onStepSelect={handleStepSelect}
                   />
                 </div>
                 {/* Right: FlowPilot Asks + What We Know */}
@@ -709,13 +770,14 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
               {/* Drag handle */}
               <div
                 onMouseDown={handleDragStart}
-                className="h-2 flex items-center justify-center cursor-row-resize hover:bg-elevated/50 transition-colors flex-shrink-0 border-y border-default/50"
+                className="h-4 flex items-center justify-center cursor-row-resize hover:bg-elevated transition-colors flex-shrink-0 border-y border-default/50 group"
+                title="Drag to resize"
               >
-                <GripHorizontal size={14} className="text-muted" />
+                <GripHorizontal size={16} className="text-muted group-hover:text-muted-foreground transition-colors" />
               </div>
 
               {/* Conversation log */}
-              <div className="flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-y-auto" style={{ background: '#13151c' }}>
+              <div className="flex-1 min-h-[180px] overflow-y-auto bg-sidebar">
                 <div className="px-4 pt-2 pb-1">
                   <span className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wider text-muted font-semibold">Conversation Log</span>
                 </div>
@@ -727,26 +789,34 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
                     </p>
                   </div>
                 )}
-                <div className="px-4 pb-2 space-y-1">
+                <div className="px-4 pb-2 space-y-1.5">
                   {messages.map((msg, i) => (
-                    <div key={i} className="flex gap-2 text-xs leading-relaxed">
+                    <div
+                      key={i}
+                      className={cn(
+                        'flex gap-3 text-sm leading-relaxed rounded-md px-3 py-2 border-l-2',
+                        msg.role === 'user'
+                          ? 'border-l-muted-foreground/30 bg-white/[0.02]'
+                          : 'border-l-accent/40 bg-accent/[0.03]'
+                      )}
+                    >
                       <span className={cn(
-                        'font-mono flex-shrink-0 mt-px',
-                        msg.role === 'user' ? 'text-muted' : 'text-accent/50'
+                        'text-xs font-medium flex-shrink-0 mt-0.5 min-w-[58px]',
+                        msg.role === 'user' ? 'text-muted-foreground' : 'text-accent/70'
                       )}>
-                        {msg.role === 'user' ? 'you:' : 'fp:'}
+                        {msg.role === 'user' ? 'You' : 'FlowPilot'}
                       </span>
                       <span className={cn(
-                        msg.role === 'user' ? 'text-muted-foreground/70' : 'text-muted-foreground'
+                        msg.role === 'user' ? 'text-muted-foreground/80' : 'text-primary/80'
                       )}>
-                        {msg.content.length > 300 ? msg.content.slice(0, 300) + '…' : msg.content}
+                        {msg.content}
                       </span>
                     </div>
                   ))}
                   {loading && (
-                    <div className="flex gap-2 text-xs">
-                      <span className="font-mono text-accent/50">fp:</span>
-                      <Loader2 size={12} className="animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />
+                    <div className="flex gap-3 text-sm px-3 py-2 border-l-2 border-l-accent/40 bg-accent/[0.03] rounded-md">
+                      <span className="text-xs font-medium text-accent/70 min-w-[58px]">FlowPilot</span>
+                      <Loader2 size={14} className="animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />
                     </div>
                   )}
                   <div ref={messagesEndRef} />
@@ -786,7 +856,7 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
                     onChange={e => setInput(e.target.value)}
                     onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
                     onPaste={handlePaste}
-                    placeholder={loading ? 'FlowPilot is working...' : 'Describe finding, paste log output, or ask FlowPilot...'}
+                    placeholder={loading ? 'FlowPilot is working...' : 'Describe the issue or ask FlowPilot...'}
                     disabled={loading}
                     rows={1}
                     className="w-full resize-none bg-transparent px-4 pt-3 pb-1 text-sm text-foreground placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:outline-none disabled:cursor-not-allowed"