diff --git a/plans/issue-kickoff/issue-30.md b/plans/issue-kickoff/issue-30.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c11b6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plans/issue-kickoff/issue-30.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# Issue #30 kickoff
+
+Title: automation: orchestration state machine + run ledger for deterministic recovery
+
+## Goal
+Implement and ship issue #30 with tests and docs.
+
+## First slice (next PR updates)
+- [ ] Reproduce/validate current behavior
+- [ ] Implement minimal end-to-end path
+- [ ] Add tests for success + failure cases
+- [ ] Update docs/changelog/versioning per policy
+
+## Blockers
+- None yet (kickoff PR)