diff --git a/docs/plans/2026-05-29-032-feat-live-operator-proof-script-plan.md b/docs/plans/2026-05-29-032-feat-live-operator-proof-script-plan.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2ee1f9f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/plans/2026-05-29-032-feat-live-operator-proof-script-plan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+---
+title: feat: Live operator proof script for one target
+type: feat
+status: complete
+date: 2026-05-29
+origin: /lfg — handoff passes; prove append-only scrape on host for smallest enabled target
+---
+
+# feat: Live operator proof script for one target
+
+## Summary
+
+Add `scripts/run-operator-proof.sh` to run handoff, incremental scrape, and grow-only proof for a single configured target (default `eod_discord`). Validates the full operator path on the host after LFG implementation.
+
+## Requirements
+
+| ID | Requirement |
+|----|-------------|
+| R1 | `--target NAME` (default `eod_discord`), `--sync-gui`, `--dry-run` (handoff only) |
+| R2 | Runs `operator-handoff.sh`, then `run-documents-scrape.sh`, then `prove-incremental-append.sh` |
+| R3 | Logs to `logs/operator-proof-TIMESTAMP.log` |
+| R4 | `run-operator-proof-smoke.sh` uses `--dry-run` with fixture config |
+| R5 | Host run for `eod_discord` when token available |
+| R6 | Prefer `podman-compose` in host runner when installed (Fedora/Podman socket) |
+
+## Verification
+
+- `./scripts/tests/run-operator-proof-smoke.sh`
+- `DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 ./scripts/run-all-smokes.sh`
+- `./scripts/run-operator-proof.sh --target eod_discord` on host (manual)
diff --git a/docs/recurring-scrape-merge-readiness.md b/docs/recurring-scrape-merge-readiness.md
index a58e7af1..177d25d5 100644
--- a/docs/recurring-scrape-merge-readiness.md
+++ b/docs/recurring-scrape-merge-readiness.md
@@ -38,6 +38,13 @@ Optional Discord probe for one target:
 ./scripts/verify-operator-ready.sh --preflight KotOR_discord_msgs
 ```
 
+Single-target live proof (handoff → scrape → grow-only check):
+
+```bash
+./scripts/run-operator-proof.sh --sync-gui --target eod_discord
+./scripts/run-operator-proof.sh --dry-run   # handoff only
+```
+
 Full validation with log (GUI token sync + scrape + audit):
 
 ```bash
@@ -62,6 +69,8 @@ Override threshold: `DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=2048 ./scripts/verify-operator-ready.sh`
 Skip check (smokes only): `DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0`  
 Also enforced by `run-documents-scrape.sh`, `run-discord-scrape-host.sh` (cron), and `run-operator-validation.sh`.
 
+**Podman hosts:** install `podman-compose` (`dnf install podman-compose`) when `docker compose` cannot reach the socket; scripts auto-prefer `podman-compose` when present.
+
 ## CI note (fork PRs)
 
 Upstream workflows may show `action_required` for cross-repo PRs from `th3w1zard1/DiscordChatExporter` until a maintainer approves workflow runs. Local `run-all-smokes.sh` is the authoritative offline gate.
diff --git a/scripts/bootstrap-recurring-scrape.sh b/scripts/bootstrap-recurring-scrape.sh
index b2d81030..55a42b3e 100755
--- a/scripts/bootstrap-recurring-scrape.sh
+++ b/scripts/bootstrap-recurring-scrape.sh
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ resolve_compose() {
     COMPOSE_BIN=("$DCE_COMPOSE_BIN")
     return 0
   fi
+  if command -v podman-compose >/dev/null 2>&1 && podman info >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    COMPOSE_BIN=(podman-compose)
+    return 0
+  fi
   if command -v docker-compose >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     COMPOSE_BIN=(docker-compose)
     return 0
diff --git a/scripts/run-discord-scrape-host.sh b/scripts/run-discord-scrape-host.sh
index 6fd0766e..e312c7f8 100755
--- a/scripts/run-discord-scrape-host.sh
+++ b/scripts/run-discord-scrape-host.sh
@@ -196,11 +196,30 @@ ensure_token_present() {
   [[ -n "${DISCORD_TOKEN:-}" ]] || die "DISCORD_TOKEN is not set. Set DISCORD_TOKEN or DISCORD_TOKEN_FILE in $ENV_FILE, export it in the shell, place a token at $REPO_ROOT/.discord-token or ~/.config/discord-scrape/token, or sign in via DiscordChatExporter GUI / Discord desktop on this machine."
 }
 
+resolve_compose_bin() {
+  if [[ -n "${DCE_COMPOSE_BIN:-}" ]]; then
+    COMPOSE_BIN=$DCE_COMPOSE_BIN
+    return 0
+  fi
+  # Smoke tests inject DCE_DOCKER_BIN with a fake compose shim; never route those through podman-compose.
+  if (( DOCKER_BIN_OVERRIDDEN == 1 )); then
+    COMPOSE_BIN=""
+    return 0
+  fi
+  if command -v podman-compose >/dev/null 2>&1 && podman info >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    COMPOSE_BIN=podman-compose
+    return 0
+  fi
+  COMPOSE_BIN=""
+}
+
 compose_run_args() {
   local -n _out=$1
   local subcommand=$2
   shift 2
 
+  resolve_compose_bin
+
   _out=()
   if [[ -n "$COMPOSE_BIN" ]]; then
     _out=(
diff --git a/scripts/run-operator-proof.sh b/scripts/run-operator-proof.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..85b2cb45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/run-operator-proof.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+set -Eeuo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR=$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd -P)
+REPO_ROOT="${DCE_REPO_ROOT:-$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/.." && pwd -P)}"
+CONFIG_PATH="${DCE_CONFIG_FILE:-$REPO_ROOT/config/scrape-targets.json}"
+HANDOFF="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/operator-handoff.sh"
+DOCUMENTS="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh"
+PROVE="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/prove-incremental-append.sh"
+SYNC_GUI="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/sync-token-from-gui.sh"
+LOG_DIR="$REPO_ROOT/logs"
+
+TARGET="eod_discord"
+SYNC_GUI_FLAG=0
+DRY_RUN=0
+
+usage() {
+  cat <<EOF
+Usage:
+  $(basename "$0") [--target NAME] [--config PATH] [--sync-gui] [--dry-run]
+
+End-to-end operator proof for one target:
+  operator-handoff → incremental scrape → prove-incremental-append
+
+Logs append to logs/operator-proof-<timestamp>.log
+EOF
+}
+
+die() {
+  printf 'ERROR: %s\n' "$*" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+
+main() {
+  while (($#)); do
+    case "$1" in
+      --target)
+        [[ $# -ge 2 ]] || die "Missing value for --target."
+        TARGET=$2
+        shift 2
+        ;;
+      --config)
+        [[ $# -ge 2 ]] || die "Missing value for --config."
+        CONFIG_PATH=$2
+        shift 2
+        ;;
+      --sync-gui)
+        SYNC_GUI_FLAG=1
+        shift
+        ;;
+      --dry-run)
+        DRY_RUN=1
+        shift
+        ;;
+      --help|-h)
+        usage
+        exit 0
+        ;;
+      *)
+        die "Unknown option: $1"
+        ;;
+    esac
+  done
+
+  mkdir -p "$LOG_DIR"
+  local log_file
+  log_file="$LOG_DIR/operator-proof-$(date -u +%Y%m%dT%H%M%SZ).log"
+
+  {
+    printf 'Operator proof for target %s\n' "$TARGET"
+    printf 'config: %s\n' "$CONFIG_PATH"
+    printf 'started: %s\n\n' "$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)"
+
+    if (( SYNC_GUI_FLAG == 1 )); then
+      [[ -x "$SYNC_GUI" ]] || die "Missing sync-token-from-gui.sh"
+      "$SYNC_GUI" --force
+    fi
+
+    if (( DRY_RUN == 1 )); then
+      "$HANDOFF" --config "$CONFIG_PATH"
+      printf '\nDry run complete (no Discord scrape).\n'
+      exit 0
+    fi
+
+    "$HANDOFF" --config "$CONFIG_PATH"
+    "$DOCUMENTS" --config "$CONFIG_PATH" --target "$TARGET"
+    "$PROVE" --config "$CONFIG_PATH" --target "$TARGET"
+
+    printf '\nOperator proof succeeded for %s\n' "$TARGET"
+  } 2>&1 | tee "$log_file"
+
+  printf 'Log: %s\n' "$log_file"
+}
+
+main "$@"
diff --git a/scripts/tests/run-operator-proof-smoke.sh b/scripts/tests/run-operator-proof-smoke.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..be431954
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/tests/run-operator-proof-smoke.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+set -Eeuo pipefail
+
+REPO_ROOT=$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.." && pwd -P)
+PROOF="$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-operator-proof.sh"
+TMP_DIR=$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/dce-operator-proof-smoke.XXXXXX")
+CONFIG_PATH="$TMP_DIR/config.json"
+ENV_PATH="$TMP_DIR/scrape.env"
+
+cleanup() {
+  rm -rf "$TMP_DIR"
+}
+trap cleanup EXIT
+
+mkdir -p "$TMP_DIR/archive/demo"
+printf '{"messages":[{"id":"1"}],"channel":{"id":"111111111111111111"}}\n' \
+  >"$TMP_DIR/archive/demo/Guild - general [111111111111111111].json"
+
+cat >"$CONFIG_PATH" <<JSON
+{
+  "archive_root": "$TMP_DIR/archive",
+  "targets": [
+    {
+      "name": "demo",
+      "kind": "guild",
+      "output_dir": "$TMP_DIR/archive/demo",
+      "channel_ids": ["111111111111111111"],
+      "enabled": true
+    }
+  ]
+}
+JSON
+
+printf 'DISCORD_TOKEN=dummy\n' >"$ENV_PATH"
+
+set +e
+output=$(
+  DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 \
+    DCE_CONFIG_FILE="$CONFIG_PATH" \
+    DCE_ENV_FILE="$ENV_PATH" \
+    "$PROOF" --config "$CONFIG_PATH" --target demo --dry-run 2>&1
+)
+status=$?
+set -e
+
+if [[ "$status" -ne 0 ]] || ! grep -q 'Dry run complete' <<<"$output"; then
+  printf 'run-operator-proof dry-run failed (status=%s)\n' "$status" >&2
+  printf '%s\n' "$output" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+printf 'run-operator-proof-smoke: ok\n'
diff --git a/scripts/verify-operator-ready.sh b/scripts/verify-operator-ready.sh
index 1e0c95f1..9993fb08 100755
--- a/scripts/verify-operator-ready.sh
+++ b/scripts/verify-operator-ready.sh
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ resolve_compose() {
     printf 'compose: %s\n' "$DCE_COMPOSE_BIN"
     return 0
   fi
+  if command -v podman-compose >/dev/null 2>&1 && podman info >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    printf 'compose: podman-compose\n'
+    return 0
+  fi
   if command -v docker >/dev/null 2>&1 && docker compose version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     printf 'compose: docker compose\n'
     return 0