diff --git a/docs/plans/2026-06-04-054-feat-salvage-only-subcommand-plan.md b/docs/plans/2026-06-04-054-feat-salvage-only-subcommand-plan.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3c7ad98c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/plans/2026-06-04-054-feat-salvage-only-subcommand-plan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+---
+title: "feat: Salvage-only mode for stale temp exports"
+type: feat
+status: complete
+date: 2026-06-04
+origin: /lfg — yes_general has 154MB+ active partial temp while full-target validation runs; operator needs to merge stale temps without re-downloading years of history after stopping a run
+---
+
+# feat: Salvage-only mode for stale temp exports
+
+## Summary
+
+Add a `salvage` subcommand that merges quiescent `.dce-temp` exports into archives without calling Discord, wired through the host runner and `run-documents-scrape.sh --salvage-only`.
+
+## Problem Frame
+
+After stopping a long-running or OOM-aborted export, operators must advance the archive cursor from preserved partial temps. Today salvage only runs at the start of a full `scrape`, which re-fetches from the archive `--after` cursor and can repeat multi-year catch-up on `yes_general`.
+
+## Requirements
+
+| ID | Requirement |
+|----|-------------|
+| R1 | `run-discord-scrape.sh salvage` merges stale temps per resolved channel; no Discord CLI export calls |
+| R2 | Salvage mode does not require `DISCORD_TOKEN` |
+| R3 | Existing `DCE_SALVAGE_ACTIVE_TEMPS=1` and `DCE_STALE_TEMP_MIN_AGE_SECONDS` env behavior applies |
+| R4 | `run-discord-scrape-host.sh salvage` acquires archive-root lock and runs salvage locally (no compose/token) |
+| R5 | `run-documents-scrape.sh --salvage-only` skips preflight/scrape and invokes host salvage |
+| R6 | Smoke covers salvage subcommand; `run-all-smokes.sh` passes |
+
+## Key Technical Decisions
+
+- **Local host execution for salvage**: Avoids compose/token requirements; salvage is filesystem-only.
+- **Reuse `salvage_stale_temp_exports`**: Same merge path as scrape preamble; no duplicate logic.
+
+## Implementation Units
+
+### U1. Core salvage subcommand
+
+**Goal:** `salvage_only_target` + `run_target_mode salvage` without token gate.
+
+**Requirements:** R1–R3
+
+**Files:** `scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh`, `scripts/tests/run-discord-scrape-smoke.sh`
+
+### U2. Host and documents wiring
+
+**Goal:** Operator entry points for salvage-only.
+
+**Requirements:** R4–R5
+
+**Files:** `scripts/run-discord-scrape-host.sh`, `scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh`, `scripts/tests/documents-scrape-smoke.sh`
+
+### U3. Smoke gate
+
+**Requirements:** R6
+
+**Verification:** `DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 ./scripts/run-all-smokes.sh`
+
+## Scope Boundaries
+
+### Deferred
+
+- Killing stale validation on host
+- Live yes_general catch-up inside LFG
+- Container memory tuning
diff --git a/scripts/run-discord-scrape-host.sh b/scripts/run-discord-scrape-host.sh
index cee8c0da..7cc7be98 100755
--- a/scripts/run-discord-scrape-host.sh
+++ b/scripts/run-discord-scrape-host.sh
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ usage() {
 Usage:
   $(basename "$0") preflight [run-discord-scrape options...]
   $(basename "$0") scrape [run-discord-scrape options...]
+  $(basename "$0") salvage [run-discord-scrape options...]
 
 Options:
   --env-file PATH      Env file to load and pass to compose. Default: $ENV_FILE
@@ -419,6 +420,28 @@ resolve_reauth_command() {
   printf '%s\n' "$resolved_path"
 }
 
+run_local_salvage() {
+  local host_config=$1
+  shift
+  local -a local_args=() skip_next=0 arg
+
+  for arg in "$@"; do
+    if (( skip_next )); then
+      skip_next=0
+      continue
+    fi
+    if [[ "$arg" == "--config" ]]; then
+      skip_next=1
+      continue
+    fi
+    local_args+=("$arg")
+  done
+
+  DCE_PRIMARY_CONFIG="$host_config" \
+    DCE_FALLBACK_CONFIG="$host_config" \
+    "$SCRIPT_DIR/run-discord-scrape.sh" salvage --config "$host_config" "${local_args[@]}"
+}
+
 resolve_host_config_path() {
   local -a args=("$@")
   local i=0 cfg="$REPO_ROOT/config/scrape-targets.json"
@@ -542,7 +565,7 @@ main() {
         usage
         exit 0
         ;;
-      preflight|scrape)
+      preflight|scrape|salvage)
         if [[ -n "$subcommand" ]]; then
           passthrough_args+=("$1")
         else
@@ -552,7 +575,7 @@ main() {
         ;;
       *)
         if [[ -z "$subcommand" ]]; then
-          die "Unsupported subcommand '$1'. Use 'preflight' or 'scrape'."
+          die "Unsupported subcommand '$1'. Use 'preflight', 'scrape', or 'salvage'."
         fi
         passthrough_args+=("$1")
         shift
@@ -575,7 +598,9 @@ main() {
   fi
 
   [[ -f "$COMPOSE_FILE" ]] || die "Missing compose file: $COMPOSE_FILE"
-  prepare_compose_env
+  if [[ "$subcommand" != "salvage" ]]; then
+    prepare_compose_env
+  fi
   REAUTH_COMMAND="${DCE_REAUTH_COMMAND:-}"
   run_disk_preflight_if_enabled "${passthrough_args[@]}"
 
@@ -599,6 +624,10 @@ main() {
       acquire_scrape_lock "$host_config"
       run_subcommand_with_retry "$subcommand" "${passthrough_args[@]}"
       ;;
+    salvage)
+      acquire_scrape_lock "$host_config"
+      run_local_salvage "$host_config" "${passthrough_args[@]}"
+      ;;
   esac
 }
 
diff --git a/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh b/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh
index 8824127b..d861afdf 100755
--- a/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh
+++ b/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ usage() {
 Usage:
   run-discord-scrape.sh scrape [options]
   run-discord-scrape.sh preflight [options]
+  run-discord-scrape.sh salvage [options]
   run-discord-scrape.sh list-targets [--config PATH]
   run-discord-scrape.sh help
   run-discord-scrape.sh <DiscordChatExporter CLI args...>
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ Usage:
 Subcommands:
   scrape        Incrementally export channels into append-only JSON files.
   preflight     Validate token/config/target resolution without writing archives.
+  salvage       Merge quiescent stale .dce-temp exports into archives (no Discord export).
   list-targets  Print configured targets from the scrape config.
   help          Show this help text.
 
@@ -1156,6 +1158,54 @@ preflight_target() {
   die "Target '$target_name' failed preflight: every resolved channel is inaccessible and no seeded archives exist under $output_dir."
 }
 
+salvage_only_target() {
+  local target_json=$1
+  local defaults_json=$2
+  local target_name output_dir destination_path
+  local -a channel_ids=()
+  local channel_id before_count after_count
+
+  target_name=$(jq -r '.name' <<<"$target_json")
+  output_dir=$(jq -r '.output_dir' <<<"$target_json")
+  mkdir -p "$output_dir"
+  bootstrap_channel_map_from_archives "$output_dir"
+
+  mapfile -t channel_ids < <(resolve_target_channels "$target_json" "$defaults_json")
+  if (( ${#channel_ids[@]} == 0 )); then
+    die "Target '$target_name' resolved no channels."
+  fi
+
+  log "Target '$target_name': salvaging stale temp exports for ${#channel_ids[@]} channel(s) under $output_dir (no Discord export)."
+  log "  Server scope: $(describe_target_resolution "$target_json")"
+
+  for channel_id in "${channel_ids[@]}"; do
+    destination_path=$(resolve_destination_path "$output_dir" "$channel_id")
+    if [[ -n "$destination_path" && -f "$destination_path" ]]; then
+      jq empty "$destination_path" >/dev/null 2>&1 || die "Existing export is not valid JSON: $destination_path"
+      assert_export_channel_identity "$destination_path" "$channel_id"
+      before_count=$(message_count "$destination_path")
+    else
+      before_count=0
+    fi
+
+    mkdir -p "$output_dir/.dce-temp"
+    salvage_stale_temp_exports "$output_dir" "$channel_id" "$destination_path"
+
+    if [[ -n "$destination_path" && -f "$destination_path" ]]; then
+      after_count=$(message_count "$destination_path")
+      if (( after_count > before_count )); then
+        log "  Salvage appended $((after_count - before_count)) messages for channel $channel_id ($before_count → $after_count)."
+      else
+        log "  No salvage merge for channel $channel_id."
+      fi
+    else
+      log "  No archive path for channel $channel_id; salvage skipped or created nothing mergeable."
+    fi
+  done
+
+  log "Target '$target_name': salvage completed."
+}
+
 scrape_target() {
   local target_json=$1
   local defaults_json=$2
@@ -1345,7 +1395,9 @@ run_target_mode() {
 
   require_command jq
   validate_config_contract "$config_path"
-  [[ -n "${DISCORD_TOKEN:-}" ]] || die "DISCORD_TOKEN is not set."
+  if [[ "$mode" != "salvage" ]]; then
+    [[ -n "${DISCORD_TOKEN:-}" ]] || die "DISCORD_TOKEN is not set."
+  fi
 
   defaults_json=$(jq -c '.defaults // {}' "$config_path")
   mapfile -t selected_targets < <(load_selected_targets "$config_path" "${requested_targets[@]}")
@@ -1373,11 +1425,17 @@ run_target_mode() {
 
   local target_json
   for target_json in "${selected_targets[@]}"; do
-    if [[ "$mode" == "preflight" ]]; then
-      preflight_target "$target_json" "$defaults_json"
-    else
-      scrape_target "$target_json" "$defaults_json"
-    fi
+    case "$mode" in
+      preflight)
+        preflight_target "$target_json" "$defaults_json"
+        ;;
+      salvage)
+        salvage_only_target "$target_json" "$defaults_json"
+        ;;
+      scrape)
+        scrape_target "$target_json" "$defaults_json"
+        ;;
+    esac
   done
 
   if [[ "$mode" == "scrape" ]]; then
@@ -1416,6 +1474,9 @@ main() {
     scrape)
       run_target_mode scrape "$@"
       ;;
+    salvage)
+      run_target_mode salvage "$@"
+      ;;
     *)
       exec "$CLI_BIN" "$subcommand" "$@"
       ;;
diff --git a/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh b/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh
index bf5d5342..512a45cd 100755
--- a/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh
+++ b/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh
@@ -17,16 +17,17 @@ source "$SCRIPT_DIR/lib/scrape-run-plan.sh"
 usage() {
   cat <<EOF
 Usage:
-  $(basename "$0") [--dry-run] [--target NAME] [--config PATH]
+  $(basename "$0") [--dry-run] [--salvage-only] [--target NAME] [--config PATH]
 
 End-to-end Documents scrape workflow:
   1. Verify enabled targets have seeded archives under ~/Documents/<server>/
   2. Bootstrap scrape.env when DISCORD_TOKEN is exported
-  3. Preflight against Discord (skipped with --dry-run)
+  3. Preflight against Discord (skipped with --dry-run or --salvage-only)
   4. Incremental scrape (append-only merges into existing JSON files)
 
 Options:
-  --dry-run     Verify archives only; do not call Discord
+  --dry-run       Verify archives only; do not call Discord
+  --salvage-only  Merge quiescent stale .dce-temp exports only (no Discord export)
   --target NAME Limit preflight/scrape to one configured target
   --channel ID  With exactly one --target, limit scrape to channel ID (repeatable)
   --config PATH Scrape target config (default: config/scrape-targets.json)
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ die() {
 
 main() {
   local dry_run=0
+  local salvage_only=0
   local target=""
   local -a passthrough=()
 
@@ -49,6 +51,10 @@ main() {
         dry_run=1
         shift
         ;;
+      --salvage-only)
+        salvage_only=1
+        shift
+        ;;
       --target)
         [[ $# -ge 2 ]] || die "Missing value for --target."
         target=$2
@@ -91,10 +97,22 @@ main() {
 
   "$VERIFY_READY" --disk-only --config "$CONFIG_PATH"
 
-  if [[ -n "${DISCORD_TOKEN:-}" || -n "${DISCORD_TOKEN_FILE:-}" ]]; then
-    "$SETUP_AUTH" 2>/dev/null || true
-  elif [[ -x "$DISCOVER_TOKEN" ]] && "$DISCOVER_TOKEN" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    "$SETUP_AUTH" 2>/dev/null || true
+  if (( salvage_only == 1 )); then
+    local -a salvage_args=(--config "$CONFIG_PATH")
+    local skip_next=0 arg
+    for arg in "${passthrough[@]}"; do
+      if (( skip_next )); then
+        skip_next=0
+        continue
+      fi
+      if [[ "$arg" == "--config" ]]; then
+        skip_next=1
+        continue
+      fi
+      salvage_args+=("$arg")
+    done
+    "$HOST_RUNNER" salvage "${salvage_args[@]}"
+    exit 0
   fi
 
   local -a container_args=("${passthrough[@]}")
@@ -117,6 +135,12 @@ main() {
     container_args=(--config "$CONTAINER_CONFIG" "${container_args[@]}")
   fi
 
+  if [[ -n "${DISCORD_TOKEN:-}" || -n "${DISCORD_TOKEN_FILE:-}" ]]; then
+    "$SETUP_AUTH" 2>/dev/null || true
+  elif [[ -x "$DISCOVER_TOKEN" ]] && "$DISCOVER_TOKEN" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    "$SETUP_AUTH" 2>/dev/null || true
+  fi
+
   "$HOST_RUNNER" preflight "${container_args[@]}"
   "$HOST_RUNNER" scrape "${container_args[@]}"
 }
diff --git a/scripts/tests/documents-scrape-smoke.sh b/scripts/tests/documents-scrape-smoke.sh
index c55f1912..c7070266 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/documents-scrape-smoke.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/documents-scrape-smoke.sh
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ DCE_REPO_ROOT="$FAKE_REPO" \
 
 ARCHIVE="$TMP_DIR/server"
 mkdir -p "$ARCHIVE"
-printf '{"messages":[{"id":"1","timestamp":"2020-01-01T00:00:00"}]}\n' >"$ARCHIVE/Guild - general [111111111111111111].json"
+printf '{"guild":{"id":"1","name":"Guild"},"channel":{"id":"111111111111111111","name":"general"},"messages":[{"id":"1","timestamp":"2020-01-01T00:00:00"}]}\n' >"$ARCHIVE/Guild - general [111111111111111111].json"
 
 cat >"$TMP_DIR/config.json" <<JSON
 {
@@ -112,6 +112,22 @@ grep -q '111111111111111111' "$ARGS_LOG" || {
   exit 1
 }
 
+cp "$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh" "$FAKE_REPO/scripts/"
+chmod +x "$FAKE_REPO/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh"
+SALVAGE_DOC_LOG="$TMP_DIR/salvage-documents.log"
+DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 \
+  DCE_SKIP_SCRAPE_LOCK=1 \
+  "$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-documents-scrape.sh" --salvage-only --config "$TMP_DIR/config.json" --target demo >"$SALVAGE_DOC_LOG" 2>&1 || {
+  echo "salvage-only documents scrape failed" >&2
+  cat "$SALVAGE_DOC_LOG" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+grep -q 'salvage completed' "$SALVAGE_DOC_LOG" || {
+  echo "expected --salvage-only to run local salvage" >&2
+  cat "$SALVAGE_DOC_LOG" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+
 DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 DCE_CONFIG_FILE="$TMP_DIR/config.json" \
   "$REPO_ROOT/scripts/verify-operator-ready.sh" --disk-only --config "$TMP_DIR/config.json" \
   | grep -q 'disk-only: ok'
diff --git a/scripts/tests/run-discord-scrape-smoke.sh b/scripts/tests/run-discord-scrape-smoke.sh
index 5f97d86c..35211848 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/run-discord-scrape-smoke.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/run-discord-scrape-smoke.sh
@@ -158,6 +158,14 @@ cat >"$CONFIG_PATH" <<JSON
       "channel_ids": ["111"],
       "guild_ids": [],
       "guild_name_patterns": []
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "salvage-only",
+      "kind": "guild",
+      "output_dir": "$ARCHIVE_ROOT/salvage-only",
+      "channel_ids": ["111"],
+      "guild_ids": [],
+      "guild_name_patterns": []
     }
   ]
 }
@@ -456,6 +464,31 @@ jq -e '.messages[] | select(.id == "3")' "$SALVAGE_DEST" >/dev/null || { echo "e
 [[ ! -d "$ARCHIVE_ROOT/salvage-stale/.dce-temp/export.111.STALE" ]] || { echo "expected stale temp dir cleaned up after salvage" >&2; exit 1; }
 grep -q 'SALVAGED' "$SALVAGE_LOG" || { echo "expected SALVAGED line in salvage log" >&2; exit 1; }
 
+mkdir -p "$ARCHIVE_ROOT/salvage-only"
+cp "$FIXTURE_DIR/append-existing.json" "$ARCHIVE_ROOT/salvage-only/$DEFAULT_FILE_NAME"
+mkdir -p "$ARCHIVE_ROOT/salvage-only/.dce-meta"
+printf '{\"111\":\"%s\"}\n' "$ARCHIVE_ROOT/salvage-only/$DEFAULT_FILE_NAME" >"$ARCHIVE_ROOT/salvage-only/.dce-meta/channel-map.json"
+mkdir -p "$ARCHIVE_ROOT/salvage-only/.dce-temp/export.111.ONLYSTALE"
+cp "$FIXTURE_DIR/salvage-truncated.json" "$ARCHIVE_ROOT/salvage-only/.dce-temp/export.111.ONLYSTALE/export.json"
+touch -d '1 hour ago' "$ARCHIVE_ROOT/salvage-only/.dce-temp/export.111.ONLYSTALE/export.json"
+SALVAGE_ONLY_LOG="$TMP_DIR/salvage-only.log"
+DISCORD_TOKEN=dummy \
+  DCE_CLI_BIN="$FAKE_CLI" \
+  DCE_PRIMARY_CONFIG="$CONFIG_PATH" \
+  DCE_FALLBACK_CONFIG="$CONFIG_PATH" \
+  FAKE_DCE_FIXTURE_DIR="$FIXTURE_DIR" \
+  FAKE_DCE_MODE=append \
+  "$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh" salvage --config "$CONFIG_PATH" --target salvage-only >"$SALVAGE_ONLY_LOG" 2>&1
+grep -q 'Exporting channel' "$SALVAGE_ONLY_LOG" && {
+  echo "salvage-only should not invoke Discord export" >&2
+  cat "$SALVAGE_ONLY_LOG" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+grep -q 'salvage completed' "$SALVAGE_ONLY_LOG" || { echo "expected salvage completed in salvage-only log" >&2; exit 1; }
+SALVAGE_ONLY_DEST="$ARCHIVE_ROOT/salvage-only/$DEFAULT_FILE_NAME"
+SALVAGE_ONLY_COUNT=$(jq -r '.messages | length' "$SALVAGE_ONLY_DEST")
+(( SALVAGE_ONLY_COUNT >= 3 )) || { echo "expected salvage-only archive to have at least 3 messages (got $SALVAGE_ONLY_COUNT)" >&2; exit 1; }
+
 # shellcheck disable=SC1091
 source "$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh"
 SHRINK_EXISTING="$TMP_DIR/shrink-existing.json"