diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a86cf95..2e6009e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ hooks-test: ## Test that the pre-commit hook blocks plaintext secrets
 	@rm -rf sso-mfa/bootstrap/secrets/_hooktest
 
 # ── SOPS / age ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-sops-setup: ## Copy age key to SOPS default path (~/.config/sops/age/keys.txt)
+sops-setup: ## Legacy dev-local setup: copy age key to SOPS default path
 	@mkdir -p ~/.config/sops/age
 	@if [[ -f ~/.config/age/key.txt ]]; then \
 	  cp -n ~/.config/age/key.txt ~/.config/sops/age/keys.txt || true; \
@@ -81,6 +81,21 @@ sops-rotate: ## Rotate SOPS recipients after updating .sops.yaml: make sops-rota
 	sops --rotate --in-place $(FILE)
 	@echo "✔ Recipients rotated for $(FILE)"
 
+sops-custody-check: ## Validate a custody age key against keys/age.pub without keeping it on disk
+	@bash sso-mfa/bootstrap/sops-custody-unlock.sh \
+	  --expected-recipient "$(OPERATOR_AGE_PUBKEY)" \
+	  --check-only
+
+sops-custody-shell: ## Open a shell with a temporary SOPS_AGE_KEY_FILE from custody material
+	@bash sso-mfa/bootstrap/sops-custody-unlock.sh \
+	  --expected-recipient "$(OPERATOR_AGE_PUBKEY)"
+
+sops-custody-run: ## Run COMMAND with a temporary custody age key: make sops-custody-run COMMAND='make -C ../inter-hub recovery-drill'
+	@[[ -n "$(COMMAND)" ]] || (echo "Usage: make sops-custody-run COMMAND='make -C ../inter-hub recovery-drill'"; exit 1)
+	@COMMAND='$(COMMAND)' bash sso-mfa/bootstrap/sops-custody-unlock.sh \
+	  --expected-recipient "$(OPERATOR_AGE_PUBKEY)" \
+	  -- bash -lc "$$COMMAND"
+
 check-secrets: ## Fail if any file under secrets/ is not SOPS-encrypted
 	@echo "Checking for unencrypted files under secrets/..."
 	@bad=0; \
diff --git a/docs/security-bootstrap-age-custody.md b/docs/security-bootstrap-age-custody.md
index 9155397..1e9dbcc 100644
--- a/docs/security-bootstrap-age-custody.md
+++ b/docs/security-bootstrap-age-custody.md
@@ -70,3 +70,63 @@ directly. Encryption does not require the private key.
 `sso-mfa/bootstrap/decrypt-secrets.sh` requires the private key path and should
 be used only in an explicit unlock/apply ceremony. After apply, plaintext files
 must be shredded.
+
+## Custody Unlock Helper
+
+Use `sso-mfa/bootstrap/sops-custody-unlock.sh` when an operator needs to run a
+SOPS-backed drill, recovery, or lockdown command but the private key is only in
+the password safe or offline custody packet.
+
+The helper:
+
+- reads the private age key from a hidden prompt, stdin, or a source file;
+- derives the public age recipient with `age-keygen -y`;
+- refuses to continue unless it matches the expected recipient;
+- writes a `0600` temporary `SOPS_AGE_KEY_FILE`;
+- runs the requested command or opens a temporary custody shell; and
+- shreds/removes the temporary key file when the command or shell exits.
+
+It must not be used to install the private key permanently on a workstation or
+server. The source of truth remains the password safe/offline custody packet.
+
+### Validate Custody Material
+
+From the NetKingdom repo, validate the supplied private key against `keys/age.pub`
+without keeping it on disk:
+
+```bash
+make sops-custody-check
+```
+
+### Run A One-Shot Recovery Drill
+
+For inter-hub:
+
+```bash
+make sops-custody-run COMMAND='make -C /home/worsch/inter-hub recovery-drill'
+```
+
+The helper prompts for the `AGE-SECRET-KEY-1...` line from the password safe or
+offline custody packet, validates it against the registered public recipient,
+sets `SOPS_AGE_KEY_FILE` for the command, and removes the temporary key after
+the drill exits.
+
+If using a password-manager CLI, pipe only the private key field:
+
+```bash
+op read 'op://Platform/NetKingdom custodian age key/private-key' \
+  | sso-mfa/bootstrap/sops-custody-unlock.sh \
+      --from-stdin \
+      -- make -C /home/worsch/inter-hub recovery-drill
+```
+
+### Open An Incident Shell
+
+For multi-step recovery or lockdown work:
+
+```bash
+make sops-custody-shell
+```
+
+Run the required SOPS, recovery, or lockdown commands inside that shell. Exit
+the shell to shred the temporary key file.
diff --git a/sso-mfa/bootstrap/README.md b/sso-mfa/bootstrap/README.md
index ed2e9e2..e73c9e4 100644
--- a/sso-mfa/bootstrap/README.md
+++ b/sso-mfa/bootstrap/README.md
@@ -115,3 +115,24 @@ See `../vault/` (created in T01 Phase 0b) for:
 - ESO (External Secrets Operator) configuration
 - Vault secret path layout
 - Migration procedure: KeePassXC → Vault
+
+## Custody Age Key Unlock
+
+For SOPS-backed drills and incident work, do not copy the custodian age private
+key into a permanent workstation path. Use the custody helper from the repo root:
+
+```bash
+make sops-custody-run COMMAND='make -C /home/worsch/inter-hub recovery-drill'
+```
+
+The helper prompts for the `AGE-SECRET-KEY-1...` line from the password safe or
+offline custody packet, validates it against `keys/age.pub`, writes a temporary
+`SOPS_AGE_KEY_FILE`, runs the command, and removes the temporary file on exit.
+
+For multi-step recovery work:
+
+```bash
+make sops-custody-shell
+```
+
+Exit the shell when finished so the temporary key file is removed.
diff --git a/sso-mfa/bootstrap/sops-custody-unlock.sh b/sso-mfa/bootstrap/sops-custody-unlock.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..8e622e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sso-mfa/bootstrap/sops-custody-unlock.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# sops-custody-unlock.sh -- run SOPS/age operations with a temporary custody key.
+#
+# The private age key is supplied only for this invocation, validated against an
+# expected public recipient, written to a 0600 temp file, and removed on exit.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/../.." && pwd)"
+
+EXPECTED_RECIPIENT="${EXPECTED_AGE_RECIPIENT:-}"
+SOURCE_FILE=""
+INPUT_MODE=""
+CHECK_ONLY=false
+COMMAND=()
+
+usage() {
+    cat <<'EOF'
+Usage:
+  sops-custody-unlock.sh [options] [-- command ...]
+
+Options:
+  --expected-recipient age1...  Required recipient. Defaults to keys/age.pub.
+  --from-file PATH              Read custody age key material from PATH.
+  --from-stdin                  Read custody age key material from stdin.
+  --prompt                      Prompt for one AGE-SECRET-KEY-1... line.
+  --check-only                  Validate the supplied key and exit.
+  -h, --help                    Show this help.
+
+Examples:
+  # Run an inter-hub recovery drill after pasting the private key line.
+  sso-mfa/bootstrap/sops-custody-unlock.sh \
+    --expected-recipient age1aq8twfd78wvpra0had8cezcnj96tj4q0068edrz5jez8d6xwmflqdepsh4 \
+    -- make -C /home/worsch/inter-hub recovery-drill
+
+  # Pipe a password-manager field into the helper without printing it.
+  op read 'op://Platform/NetKingdom custodian age key/private-key' \
+    | sso-mfa/bootstrap/sops-custody-unlock.sh --from-stdin -- make recovery-drill
+
+If no command is supplied, an interactive shell is opened with SOPS_AGE_KEY_FILE
+set. Exit that shell to remove the temporary key file.
+EOF
+}
+
+fail() {
+    printf 'ERROR: %s\n' "$*" >&2
+    exit 1
+}
+
+while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
+    case "$1" in
+        --expected-recipient)
+            [[ $# -ge 2 ]] || fail "--expected-recipient requires a value"
+            EXPECTED_RECIPIENT="$2"
+            shift 2
+            ;;
+        --expected-recipient=*)
+            EXPECTED_RECIPIENT="${1#*=}"
+            shift
+            ;;
+        --from-file)
+            [[ $# -ge 2 ]] || fail "--from-file requires a path"
+            SOURCE_FILE="$2"
+            INPUT_MODE="file"
+            shift 2
+            ;;
+        --from-file=*)
+            SOURCE_FILE="${1#*=}"
+            INPUT_MODE="file"
+            shift
+            ;;
+        --from-stdin)
+            INPUT_MODE="stdin"
+            shift
+            ;;
+        --prompt)
+            INPUT_MODE="prompt"
+            shift
+            ;;
+        --check-only)
+            CHECK_ONLY=true
+            shift
+            ;;
+        -h|--help)
+            usage
+            exit 0
+            ;;
+        --)
+            shift
+            COMMAND=("$@")
+            break
+            ;;
+        *)
+            fail "unknown argument: $1"
+            ;;
+    esac
+done
+
+if [[ -z "$EXPECTED_RECIPIENT" && -f "$REPO_ROOT/keys/age.pub" ]]; then
+    EXPECTED_RECIPIENT="$(grep -m1 '^age1' "$REPO_ROOT/keys/age.pub" || true)"
+fi
+[[ "$EXPECTED_RECIPIENT" == age1* ]] || fail "expected age recipient not set; pass --expected-recipient age1..."
+
+command -v age-keygen >/dev/null 2>&1 || fail "age-keygen not found; install age before running custody unlock"
+
+if [[ -z "$INPUT_MODE" ]]; then
+    if [[ -t 0 ]]; then
+        INPUT_MODE="prompt"
+    else
+        INPUT_MODE="stdin"
+    fi
+fi
+
+TMP_DIR="$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/netkingdom-sops-age.XXXXXX")"
+KEY_FILE="$TMP_DIR/keys.txt"
+cleanup() {
+    if [[ -f "$KEY_FILE" ]]; then
+        if command -v shred >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            shred -u "$KEY_FILE" 2>/dev/null || rm -f "$KEY_FILE"
+        else
+            rm -f "$KEY_FILE"
+        fi
+    fi
+    rmdir "$TMP_DIR" 2>/dev/null || true
+}
+trap cleanup EXIT HUP INT TERM
+
+umask 077
+case "$INPUT_MODE" in
+    file)
+        [[ -f "$SOURCE_FILE" ]] || fail "custody age key file not found: $SOURCE_FILE"
+        cp "$SOURCE_FILE" "$KEY_FILE"
+        chmod 600 "$KEY_FILE"
+        ;;
+    stdin)
+        cat > "$KEY_FILE"
+        chmod 600 "$KEY_FILE"
+        ;;
+    prompt)
+        [[ -t 0 ]] || fail "cannot prompt for key because stdin is not a terminal; use --from-stdin or --from-file"
+        printf 'Paste custody age private key line (input hidden): ' >&2
+        IFS= read -r -s key_line
+        printf '\n' >&2
+        [[ -n "$key_line" ]] || fail "no key material supplied"
+        printf '%s\n' "$key_line" > "$KEY_FILE"
+        unset key_line
+        chmod 600 "$KEY_FILE"
+        ;;
+    *)
+        fail "unsupported input mode: $INPUT_MODE"
+        ;;
+esac
+
+[[ -s "$KEY_FILE" ]] || fail "no key material supplied"
+if ! grep -q 'AGE-SECRET-KEY-1' "$KEY_FILE"; then
+    fail "supplied material does not contain an AGE-SECRET-KEY-1 private key"
+fi
+
+DERIVED_RECIPIENT="$(age-keygen -y "$KEY_FILE" 2>/dev/null || true)"
+[[ "$DERIVED_RECIPIENT" == age1* ]] || fail "could not derive an age public recipient from supplied key"
+
+if [[ "$DERIVED_RECIPIENT" != "$EXPECTED_RECIPIENT" ]]; then
+    printf 'ERROR: custody key does not match expected recipient\n' >&2
+    printf '  expected: %s\n' "$EXPECTED_RECIPIENT" >&2
+    printf '  derived : %s\n' "$DERIVED_RECIPIENT" >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+printf 'OK: custody age key matches expected recipient %s\n' "$EXPECTED_RECIPIENT" >&2
+
+if [[ "$CHECK_ONLY" == true ]]; then
+    printf 'OK: check complete; temporary key file removed on exit\n' >&2
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+export SOPS_AGE_KEY_FILE="$KEY_FILE"
+export NETKINGDOM_CUSTODY_AGE_KEY_FILE="$KEY_FILE"
+
+if [[ ${#COMMAND[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
+    printf 'Running command with temporary SOPS_AGE_KEY_FILE. Key file will be removed after command exit.\n' >&2
+    "${COMMAND[@]}"
+else
+    printf 'Opening custody shell with temporary SOPS_AGE_KEY_FILE=%s\n' "$SOPS_AGE_KEY_FILE" >&2
+    printf 'Run recovery or lockdown commands, then exit the shell to remove the temp key.\n' >&2
+    bash -i
+fi
diff --git a/workplans/ADHOC-2026-06-14.md b/workplans/ADHOC-2026-06-14.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..491484d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/workplans/ADHOC-2026-06-14.md
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+---
+id: ADHOC-2026-06-14
+type: workplan
+title: "Ad hoc NetKingdom operator usability fixes"
+domain: netkingdom
+repo: net-kingdom
+status: finished
+owner: codex
+topic_slug: netkingdom
+created: "2026-06-14"
+updated: "2026-06-14"
+---
+
+# Ad hoc NetKingdom operator usability fixes
+
+## SOPS Custody Unlock Helper
+
+```task
+id: ADHOC-2026-06-14-T01
+status: done
+priority: medium
+```
+
+Added a custody unlock helper for SOPS/age operations so drills and incident
+commands can use the password-safe/offline custody age private key without
+installing it permanently on a workstation.
+
+The helper validates the supplied private key against the expected public age
+recipient, writes a temporary `0600` `SOPS_AGE_KEY_FILE`, runs the requested
+command or opens an incident shell, and removes the temporary key on exit.
+
+Documented the inter-hub recovery-drill path:
+
+```bash
+make sops-custody-run COMMAND='make -C /home/worsch/inter-hub recovery-drill'
+```