diff --git a/_docs/02_document/components/02_auth/description.md b/_docs/02_document/components/02_auth/description.md
index cfd11b5..d5aa8ce 100644
--- a/_docs/02_document/components/02_auth/description.md
+++ b/_docs/02_document/components/02_auth/description.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 | Export | Signature | Notes |
 |--------|-----------|-------|
-| `AuthProvider({ children })` | React component | Wraps the app below `BrowserRouter`. Bootstraps via `GET /api/admin/auth/refresh` on mount. |
+| `AuthProvider({ children })` | React component | Wraps the app below `BrowserRouter`. Bootstraps via `POST /api/admin/auth/refresh` (with `credentials: 'include'`) chained with `GET /api/admin/users/me` on mount — same wire shape as the 401-retry path in `api/client.ts`. |
 | `useAuth(): AuthContextValue` | hook | Read-only access to `{ user, permissions, login, logout, refresh, loading }`. |
 
 **`AuthContextValue`** (output DTO):
@@ -51,19 +51,20 @@ Consumes only — does not expose. Endpoint set (from `_docs/02_document/modules
 
 **State Management**: Single React context. Token lives in an HTTP-only cookie (server-managed); the React state holds only the parsed user + permissions. No `localStorage`.
 
-**Bootstrap sequence**:
+**Bootstrap sequence** (consolidated by AZ-510):
 1. Mount → set `loading: true`.
-2. `api.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh')` to ask the server "do I have a valid session?".
-3. On 200 → store user + permissions, `loading: false`.
-4. On 4xx → user stays `null`, `loading: false`. `ProtectedRoute` then redirects.
+2. `fetch(getApiBase() + endpoints.admin.authRefresh(), { method: 'POST', credentials: 'include' })` to ask the server "do I have a valid session?". Direct `fetch` (not `api.post`) because `api.post` does not thread `credentials: 'include'` and widening it would change CORS posture for every authed callsite.
+3. On 200 → `setToken(data.token)`, then `api.get(endpoints.admin.usersMe())` to fetch the user shape (the POST refresh response is `{ token }` only — no user payload). On `/users/me` 200 → `setUser(authUser)`, `loading: false`. On `/users/me` failure → `setToken(null)`, `setUser(null)`, `loading: false`, `console.error` carries the diagnostic (refresh OK / user GET failed).
+4. On refresh 4xx or network failure → `setUser(null)`, `loading: false`. `ProtectedRoute` then redirects to `/login`.
+5. **StrictMode**: a module-scoped in-flight promise deduplicates the bootstrap network round-trip across React 18+ StrictMode double-mounts so the backend cookie rotation does not race itself.
 
-> **PRIORITY finding (B3, copied from state.json)**: the bootstrap call inside `AuthContext.tsx` does not pass `credentials: 'include'` consistently — the cookie is therefore not sent on the very first request and bootstrap silently fails on a fresh page load. Confirmed real bug; Step 4 fix.
+Bootstrap and the 401-retry path in `api/client.ts:88` now share a single wire shape — `POST /api/admin/auth/refresh` with credentials. Finding **B3** (bootstrap missing `credentials: 'include'`) is closed.
 
 **Spinner UX**: `ProtectedRoute` renders a centered spinner during `loading`. The spinner has **no** `role="status"` / no accessible label / no timeout. (Findings B4, joint with Step 4 client.ts timeout flag.)
 
 ## 7. Caveats & Edge Cases
 
-- **Bootstrap missing `credentials: 'include'`** → users land on `/login` even with a valid cookie session. PRIORITY Step 4.
+- ~~**Bootstrap missing `credentials: 'include'`**~~ — closed by AZ-510. Bootstrap now uses POST refresh + chained `/users/me` with credentials, matching the 401-retry path.
 - **Spinner accessibility** — Step 4.
 - **Token-rotation interaction with SSE** — see `01_api-transport`. Auth refresh works for fetch but breaks every active EventSource.
 - **No idle-timeout / inactivity logout** — server-side concern; UI tolerates whatever the server enforces.
diff --git a/_docs/02_tasks/todo/AZ-510_auth_bootstrap_consolidation.md b/_docs/02_tasks/done/AZ-510_auth_bootstrap_consolidation.md
similarity index 100%
rename from _docs/02_tasks/todo/AZ-510_auth_bootstrap_consolidation.md
rename to _docs/02_tasks/done/AZ-510_auth_bootstrap_consolidation.md
diff --git a/_docs/03_implementation/batch_13_cycle3_report.md b/_docs/03_implementation/batch_13_cycle3_report.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af753e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/_docs/03_implementation/batch_13_cycle3_report.md
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+# Batch 13 — AZ-510 (Auth bootstrap refresh consolidation)
+
+**Date**: 2026-05-13
+**Cycle**: 3 — autodev Step 10 (Implement), batch 1 of 3 (fixes-first order: AZ-510 → AZ-511 → AZ-512)
+**Tickets**: AZ-510 (Epic AZ-509)
+**Verdict**: PASS
+
+---
+
+## Task Results
+
+| Task | Status | Files Modified | Tests | AC Coverage | Issues |
+|------|--------|----------------|-------|-------------|--------|
+| AZ-510_auth_bootstrap_consolidation | Done | 25 files | 231 passed / 13 skipped (full fast suite) | 6/6 ACs covered | None |
+
+## AC Test Coverage: 6/6 covered
+
+- AC-1 → `AuthContext.test.tsx` FT-P-01 (POST + `credentials:'include'` + no GET refresh)
+- AC-2 → FT-P-01 (chain to `/users/me`, bearer set, loading false)
+- AC-3 → `ProtectedRoute.test.tsx` (failed bootstrap → spinner → `/login` once); also
+  exercised by NFT-SEC-01's intermediate state
+- AC-4 → `AuthContext.test.tsx` "AC-4 (AZ-510)" test (new, lines 108-138)
+- AC-5 → `ProtectedRoute.test.tsx` admin-route success cases (no `/login` on success bootstrap)
+- AC-6 → `AuthContext.test.tsx` NFT-SEC-01 + FT-P-03 (401-retry path unchanged); plus existing
+  `src/api/client.test.ts` retry tests
+
+## Code Review Verdict: PASS
+
+- Report: `_docs/03_implementation/reviews/batch_13_review.md`
+- 0 findings (Critical / High / Medium / Low)
+- Resolved baseline finding **B3** (Auth bootstrap missing `credentials:'include'` — Vision P3 violation)
+
+## Auto-Fix Attempts: 0
+
+No auto-fix loop needed.
+
+## Stuck Agents: 0
+
+---
+
+## Implementation Notes
+
+### Changed Files
+
+**Production code**:
+- `src/auth/AuthContext.tsx` — replaced GET-refresh `useEffect` with `runBootstrap()` POST +
+  chained `/users/me`; added module-scoped `bootstrapInflight` for StrictMode safety; defensive
+  `hasPermission` against legacy `/users/me` payloads missing `permissions`.
+- `src/auth/index.ts` — re-exports `__resetBootstrapInflightForTests` to keep tests off deep
+  imports (STC-ARCH-01).
+- `src/api/endpoints.ts` — added `endpoints.admin.usersMe()` builder; STC-ARCH-02 forbids the
+  literal `/api/admin/users/me` outside `endpoints.ts`.
+
+**Tests** (handler swaps + new AC-4 + setup hook):
+- `src/auth/AuthContext.test.tsx` — un-quarantined FT-P-01 (now POST regression guard); updated
+  FT-P-03 / NFT-SEC-01 / NFT-SEC-02 to POST refresh + chained `/users/me`; added AC-4 (AZ-510)
+  test.
+- `src/auth/ProtectedRoute.test.tsx` — `withUser` helper now uses POST refresh + GET `/users/me`;
+  all `http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', …)` mocks swapped to POST.
+- `src/components/Header.test.tsx` — `wireAuthAndFlights` updated to POST refresh + `/users/me`.
+- `src/api/endpoints.test.ts` — wire-contract assertion for `endpoints.admin.usersMe()`.
+- `tests/msw/handlers/admin.ts` — default `GET /users/me` handler returns user with explicit
+  `permissions: seedPermissions[opAlice.id] ?? []` (was missing → caused
+  `TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'includes')`).
+- `tests/setup.ts` — `afterEach` hook calls `__resetBootstrapInflightForTests` to prevent
+  module-scoped inflight promise leakage between tests.
+- 15 broader test files (`tests/*.test.tsx`) — bulk swap of intentional-fail bootstrap
+  handlers from `http.get` → `http.post` for `/api/admin/auth/refresh`. Without the swap the
+  POST-based bootstrap would auto-authenticate from the default handler and break tests that
+  expect `user: null`.
+
+**Documentation**:
+- `_docs/02_document/components/02_auth/description.md` — bootstrap section rewritten to
+  describe POST + chained `/users/me`; Finding B3 marked closed.
+
+### Resolved Finding
+
+- **B3** (`_docs/02_document/04_verification_log.md`): Auth bootstrap missing
+  `credentials:'include'` — closed by AZ-510. Architecture Vision principle P3 ("bearer in
+  memory, refresh in HttpOnly cookie") now satisfied on the bootstrap path.
+
+### Test Run
+
+- Static profile: PASS (all gates including STC-ARCH-01 / STC-ARCH-02 green)
+- Fast profile: 31 files, 231 passed / 13 skipped (quarantined). No new failures.
+- Suite duration: ~30s (fast) + ~55s (static).
+
+### Notable Failure-Then-Fix Path During Implementation
+
+1. **`ProtectedRoute.test.tsx` hangs (3 tests)** — module-scoped `bootstrapInflight` leaked
+   the never-resolving promise from one test into subsequent renders. Fix: test-only export
+   + afterEach reset hook.
+2. **STC-ARCH-01 violation** — `tests/setup.ts` initially imported the test helper directly
+   from `src/auth/AuthContext`. Fix: re-export through the `src/auth` barrel; switch import.
+3. **Widespread test failures** (`flight_selection_persistence.test.tsx`,
+   `browser_support_responsive.test.tsx`, …) — default `/users/me` handler omitted
+   `permissions`, so `hasPermission` crashed on `undefined.includes`. Fix: defensive
+   `hasPermission` + handler now seeds `permissions` from `seedPermissions[opAlice.id]`.
+4. **Bulk handler swap** — 15 test files mocked `http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', …)` to
+   force bootstrap fail. Production now uses POST so the GET override is ignored and bootstrap
+   auto-authenticates from defaults. Fixed via per-file `sed` in a `for` loop (single `sed`
+   with the full file list hit a shell command-line length issue and reported "No such file
+   or directory").
+
+## Next Batch
+
+**Batch 14 (cycle 3 / batch 2 of 3)** — AZ-511 classColors carve-out to `src/class-colors/`
+(closes Finding F3 + 5-coupled-places exemption).
diff --git a/_docs/03_implementation/reviews/batch_13_review.md b/_docs/03_implementation/reviews/batch_13_review.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f16b2b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/_docs/03_implementation/reviews/batch_13_review.md
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+# Code Review Report — Batch 13
+
+**Batch**: AZ-510 (Auth bootstrap refresh consolidation)
+**Cycle**: 3
+**Date**: 2026-05-13
+**Verdict**: PASS
+
+---
+
+## Phase 1: Context Loading
+
+- Task spec: `_docs/02_tasks/todo/AZ-510_auth_bootstrap_consolidation.md` — replace broken
+  `GET /api/admin/auth/refresh` (no `credentials:'include'`) with `POST /api/admin/auth/refresh`
+  (with credentials) chained to `GET /api/admin/users/me`. Closes Finding B3 / Vision P3.
+- Architecture vision principle P3 (`bearer in memory, refresh in HttpOnly cookie`) requires the
+  bootstrap path to send the HttpOnly refresh cookie; the prior code violated this.
+- Architecture compliance baseline (`_docs/02_document/architecture_compliance_baseline.md`)
+  carries B3 as the open downstream item AZ-510 was created to close.
+
+## Phase 2: Spec Compliance
+
+| AC | Mechanism | Test Evidence |
+|----|-----------|---------------|
+| AC-1 — POST refresh + `credentials:'include'`, no GET refresh | `runBootstrap()` direct `fetch(..., {method:'POST', credentials:'include'})` (`AuthContext.tsx:45-48`) | `AuthContext.test.tsx` FT-P-01 asserts method, credentials, chain |
+| AC-2 — Successful refresh chains to `/users/me` and resolves `loading:false` | `setToken(refreshData.token)` then `api.get<AuthUser>(endpoints.admin.usersMe())` (`AuthContext.tsx:51-53`); `setUser(result)` + `setLoading(false)` (`:78-79`) | FT-P-01 asserts `usersMeHits === 1`; `getToken()` becomes `BEARER` in NFT-SEC-01 |
+| AC-3 — Failed refresh → `/login` exactly once, no flash | `if (!refreshRes.ok) return null` (`:49`) → `setUser(null)` + `setLoading(false)` (`:78-79`) | `ProtectedRoute.test.tsx` covers spinner→`/login` paths under POST-refresh handlers |
+| AC-4 — `/users/me` failure clears bearer + logs | `try/catch` around `api.get` calls `setToken(null)` + `console.error` + returns `null` (`:54-61`); top-level `.then` then sets `user:null` + `loading:false` | New `AC-4 (AZ-510)` test in `AuthContext.test.tsx:108-138` asserts `getToken()` becomes `null`, `console.error` carries `"/users/me failed"` |
+| AC-5 — Returning user not bounced to `/login` | Successful bootstrap path sets `user` before `loading:false`; `ProtectedRoute` only redirects when `!loading && !user` | Implicit in `ProtectedRoute.test.tsx` admin-route success cases (no `/login` rendered) |
+| AC-6 — 401-retry path unchanged | `runBootstrap` uses direct `fetch`, not `api`; `api/client.ts:73-98` unchanged | `NFT-SEC-01` exercises bootstrap → 401 on `/users/me` → POST refresh rotation → replay; `FT-P-03` covers refresh transparency |
+
+**Constraints**:
+- C1 `getApiBase()` is the only base-URL source — honored (`:45`).
+- C2 No `api.post()` for refresh — honored; uses direct `fetch` per the same comment in `api/client.ts:88`.
+- C3 MSW handlers exercise production paths — honored; no `vi.mock('api/client')`.
+- C4 `setToken(null)` precedes `setUser(null)` on every failure path — honored:
+  - `/users/me` failure: `setToken(null)` (`:59`) → return `null` → top-level `setUser(null)` (`:78`).
+  - Outer fetch reject: `setToken(null)` (`:87`) → `setUser(null)` (`:88`).
+
+**Risk 4 (StrictMode double-mount)**: addressed via module-scoped `bootstrapInflight` promise
+(`AuthContext.tsx:25, 70-74`). Test-only escape hatch `__resetBootstrapInflightForTests`
+exported via the `src/auth` barrel and called in `tests/setup.ts` afterEach to prevent
+inter-test promise leakage (was the proximate cause of `ProtectedRoute.test.tsx` hangs during
+implementation).
+
+No spec-gap findings.
+
+## Phase 3: Code Quality
+
+- **SOLID / SRP**: `runBootstrap` has one responsibility (refresh + chain + clear-on-failure);
+  `AuthProvider`'s effect orchestrates the inflight guard and react state — clean separation.
+- **Error handling**: explicit `try/catch` around `/users/me`; outer `.catch` handles network
+  errors on the POST refresh itself. Both log via `console.error` with diagnostic prefix.
+  No bare catches introduced. (Pre-existing `try { await api.post(authLogout()) } catch {}` in
+  `logout` is out of scope.)
+- **Naming**: `bootstrapInflight`, `runBootstrap`, `__resetBootstrapInflightForTests` are
+  precise and self-documenting. Test export name carries the `__…ForTests` convention.
+- **Defensive `hasPermission`**: `user?.permissions?.includes(perm) ?? false` — correctly
+  guards against legacy `/users/me` payloads that omit `permissions`. Required because
+  several existing test fixtures returned the bare `User` shape without `permissions`.
+- **Comments**: comments explain *why* (StrictMode race, CORS posture for `api.post`,
+  Constraint #4 ordering) — not *what*. Conforms to coderule.mdc.
+- **Test quality**: AC-4 test asserts `getToken() === null` AND that `console.error` was
+  called with the diagnostic prefix — meaningful state + log assertion, not just "no throw".
+
+No findings.
+
+## Phase 4: Security Quick-Scan
+
+- No hardcoded secrets, no SQL/string-interp queries, no `eval`/`exec`.
+- `console.error('[AuthContext] Refresh succeeded but /users/me failed:', err)` logs the error
+  object. The error object originates from `api.get` which throws a structured error without
+  bearer material; the bearer was set via `setToken` before the try block but is not in the
+  thrown error. No bearer leak.
+- HttpOnly refresh cookie continues to flow via `credentials:'include'` — never touched in JS.
+  NFT-SEC-02 explicitly verifies `document.cookie` carries no refresh-prefixed cookie.
+
+No findings.
+
+## Phase 5: Performance
+
+- Two sequential network calls (POST refresh → GET `/users/me`) on every cold mount. Spec NFR
+  budgets 200 ms p95 for the chain on dev compose; same nginx/auth/host. Within budget.
+- Module-scoped inflight promise prevents double-bootstrap under StrictMode dev double-mount,
+  removing the wasted second round-trip.
+
+No findings.
+
+## Phase 6: Cross-Task Consistency
+
+Single-task batch — N/A.
+
+## Phase 7: Architecture Compliance
+
+| Check | Result |
+|-------|--------|
+| Layer direction | `src/auth/AuthContext.tsx` imports from `../api` (barrel) and `../types` only — auth → api allowed per architecture |
+| Public API respect | All cross-component imports go through `src/api/index.ts` and `src/types/index.ts` barrels; no deep imports |
+| New cyclic deps | None introduced |
+| Duplicate symbols | None |
+| Cross-cutting in component dir | `bootstrapInflight` is auth-specific state; correctly lives in the auth component |
+
+**STC-ARCH-01 (cross-component deep imports)** static gate: passed after fixing the
+`tests/setup.ts → src/auth/AuthContext` deep import by re-exporting
+`__resetBootstrapInflightForTests` from `src/auth/index.ts` (barrel) and switching the import
+to `../src/auth`.
+
+**STC-ARCH-02 (no hardcoded API literals)** static gate: passed; new `endpoints.admin.usersMe`
+builder added (`src/api/endpoints.ts`) and used at the only callsite.
+
+### Baseline Delta
+
+| Status | Finding | Notes |
+|--------|---------|-------|
+| Resolved | B3 — Auth bootstrap missing `credentials:'include'` | Was open in `_docs/02_document/04_verification_log.md`; bootstrap now POST + `credentials:'include'` + chained `/users/me`. |
+| Carried over | (none in this file's scope) | — |
+| Newly introduced | (none) | — |
+
+## Verdict
+
+**PASS** — no Critical / High / Medium / Low findings. All ACs covered with tests; constraints
+honored; static and fast profiles green (231 passed, 13 quarantined skips unchanged); Finding
+B3 resolved.
diff --git a/_docs/_autodev_state.md b/_docs/_autodev_state.md
index 7adbbbe..d560b9a 100644
--- a/_docs/_autodev_state.md
+++ b/_docs/_autodev_state.md
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ step: 10
 name: Implement
 status: in_progress
 sub_step:
-  phase: 0
-  name: awaiting-invocation
-  detail: ""
+  phase: 14
+  name: loop
+  detail: "batch 2 of 3 (AZ-511 next)"
 retry_count: 0
 cycle: 3
 tracker: jira
diff --git a/src/api/endpoints.test.ts b/src/api/endpoints.test.ts
index 78684ae..41aa38a 100644
--- a/src/api/endpoints.test.ts
+++ b/src/api/endpoints.test.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ describe('AZ-486 endpoints — wire-contract URLs', () => {
       expect(endpoints.admin.users()).toBe('/api/admin/users')
     })
 
+    it('admin.usersMe (AZ-510 — bootstrap chain)', () => {
+      // Assert
+      expect(endpoints.admin.usersMe()).toBe('/api/admin/users/me')
+    })
+
     it('admin.user(id) interpolates the id', () => {
       // Assert
       expect(endpoints.admin.user('abc')).toBe('/api/admin/users/abc')
diff --git a/src/api/endpoints.ts b/src/api/endpoints.ts
index 9537901..04fdbae 100644
--- a/src/api/endpoints.ts
+++ b/src/api/endpoints.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ export const endpoints = {
     authLogin: () => '/api/admin/auth/login',
     authLogout: () => '/api/admin/auth/logout',
     users: () => '/api/admin/users',
+    // AZ-510 — chained from POST authRefresh() during AuthProvider bootstrap
+    // (the POST refresh response is `{ token }` only; the user shape comes
+    // from this GET). Keeps `01_api-transport` as the single source of truth
+    // for `/api/admin/...` literals (STC-ARCH-02).
+    usersMe: () => '/api/admin/users/me',
     user: (id: string) => `/api/admin/users/${id}`,
     classes: () => '/api/admin/classes',
     // DetectionClass.id is `number` in the type system; widened to accept
diff --git a/src/auth/AuthContext.test.tsx b/src/auth/AuthContext.test.tsx
index 77fed48..75a1065 100644
--- a/src/auth/AuthContext.test.tsx
+++ b/src/auth/AuthContext.test.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import { http, HttpResponse } from 'msw'
 import { act, useRef } from 'react'
 import { server } from '../../tests/msw/server'
@@ -8,9 +8,10 @@ import { seedBearer, clearBearer } from '../../tests/helpers/auth'
 
 // AZ-457 — Auth & token-handling at the React composition root.
 //   FT-P-01  / row 02   — bootstrap refresh sends credentials:'include'
-//                          (currently `quarantined` — bootstrap goes through
-//                           api.get which doesn't thread credentials; row 02
-//                           in results_report.md flags Step 4 fix pending)
+//                          (un-quarantined by AZ-510; bootstrap is now POST
+//                           with credentials per the consolidation, so the
+//                           `it.fails` wrapper is removed and the assertion
+//                           runs as a regression guard)
 //   FT-P-03  / row 11   — refresh transparency — children don't unmount;
 //                          re-render delta ≤ 1
 //   NFT-SEC-01 / row 04  — bearer never written to localStorage/sessionStorage
@@ -104,22 +105,58 @@ describe('AZ-457 / src/auth/AuthContext.tsx — bootstrap, refresh, storage disc
     clearBearer()
   })
 
-  describe('FT-P-01 (row 02) — bootstrap refresh', () => {
-    it.fails('AuthProvider mount sends credentials:\'include\' on the bootstrap refresh (quarantined — Step 4 fix pending)', async () => {
-      // Arrange — the production bootstrap path goes through `api.get(...)`,
-      // which does NOT thread credentials. Row 02 in results_report.md is
-      // `quarantined` until the bootstrap fetch is migrated to a path that
-      // sets credentials:'include'. The inverted assertion below documents the
-      // divergence next to its system-under-test; the day the production code
-      // sends credentials:'include' on bootstrap, this test starts failing
-      // and the it.fails wrapper is removed.
-      let bootstrapCredentials: RequestCredentials | null = null
+  describe('AC-4 (AZ-510) — /users/me failure after refresh success clears the bearer', () => {
+    it('POST refresh 200 then GET /users/me 401 → setToken(null) + setUser(null) + loading false; console.error fires', async () => {
+      // Arrange — refresh succeeds and seeds a bearer; chained /users/me
+      // returns 401 (e.g. user record gone server-side after a stale cookie
+      // hit). Constraint #4 says the bearer must be cleared so an in-flight
+      // re-render does not see (user: null) alongside an active accessToken.
+      const errorSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'error').mockImplementation(() => { /* swallow during assert */ })
+      let usersMeHits = 0
       server.use(
-        http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', ({ request }) => {
+        http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => HttpResponse.json({ token: 'mid-flight-bearer' })),
+        http.get('/api/admin/users/me', () => {
+          usersMeHits += 1
+          return new HttpResponse(null, { status: 401 })
+        }),
+      )
+
+      // Act
+      renderWithProviders(<div data-testid="app">app</div>)
+      await waitFor(() => expect(usersMeHits).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1))
+      await waitFor(() => expect(getToken()).toBeNull())
+
+      // Assert — bearer cleared, error logged with diagnostic shape.
+      expect(getToken()).toBeNull()
+      expect(errorSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
+      const loggedAtLeastOnceWithRefreshOkUserFailed = errorSpy.mock.calls.some(args =>
+        typeof args[0] === 'string' && args[0].includes('/users/me failed'),
+      )
+      expect(loggedAtLeastOnceWithRefreshOkUserFailed).toBe(true)
+      errorSpy.mockRestore()
+    })
+  })
+
+  describe('FT-P-01 (row 02) — bootstrap refresh', () => {
+    it("AuthProvider mount sends POST /api/admin/auth/refresh with credentials:'include'", async () => {
+      // Arrange — AZ-510 consolidated the bootstrap onto the same wire shape
+      // as the 401-retry: POST refresh with credentials:'include', then a
+      // chained GET /users/me for the user payload. This test is the
+      // regression guard for the credentials:'include' contract and the
+      // wire-method (POST vs the previously-broken GET).
+      let bootstrapMethod: string | null = null
+      let bootstrapCredentials: RequestCredentials | null = null
+      let usersMeHits = 0
+      server.use(
+        http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', ({ request }) => {
+          bootstrapMethod = request.method
           bootstrapCredentials = request.credentials
+          return HttpResponse.json({ token: 'bootstrap-bearer' })
+        }),
+        http.get('/api/admin/users/me', () => {
+          usersMeHits += 1
           return HttpResponse.json({
-            user: { id: 'user-alice', email: 'op_alice@test.local', name: 'Alice', role: 'op', permissions: [] },
-            token: 'bootstrap-bearer',
+            id: 'user-alice', email: 'op_alice@test.local', name: 'Alice', role: 'op', permissions: [],
           })
         }),
       )
@@ -127,9 +164,12 @@ describe('AZ-457 / src/auth/AuthContext.tsx — bootstrap, refresh, storage disc
       // Act
       renderWithProviders(<div data-testid="app-root">app</div>)
       await waitFor(() => expect(bootstrapCredentials).not.toBeNull())
+      await waitFor(() => expect(usersMeHits).toBe(1))
 
-      // Assert — intentionally fails today.
+      // Assert — POST + credentials:'include' + chained /users/me.
+      expect(bootstrapMethod).toBe('POST')
       expect(bootstrapCredentials).toBe('include')
+      expect(usersMeHits).toBe(1)
     })
   })
 
@@ -143,22 +183,26 @@ describe('AZ-457 / src/auth/AuthContext.tsx — bootstrap, refresh, storage disc
         renderTimes.push(ref.current)
         return <div data-testid="stable-child">child #{ref.current}</div>
       }
-      // Bootstrap returns a logged-in session (so the AuthProvider settles
-      // immediately), then we trigger a 401-retry cycle on a downstream call.
+      // Bootstrap (AZ-510 wire shape): POST refresh -> { token }, chained GET
+      // /users/me -> user. Await bootstrap settlement BEFORE re-overriding
+      // /users/me below — otherwise the 401-retry handler would intercept
+      // bootstrap's chained call and the test would fight itself.
       server.use(
-        http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () =>
-          HttpResponse.json({
-            user: { id: 'user-alice', email: 'op_alice@test.local', name: 'Alice', role: 'op', permissions: [] },
-            token: 'bootstrap-bearer',
-          }),
+        http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () =>
+          HttpResponse.json({ token: 'bootstrap-bearer' }),
+        ),
+        http.get('/api/admin/users/me', () =>
+          HttpResponse.json({ id: 'user-alice', email: 'op_alice@test.local', name: 'Alice', role: 'op', permissions: [] }),
         ),
       )
 
       renderWithProviders(<StableChild />)
       await screen.findByTestId('stable-child')
+      await waitFor(() => expect(getToken()).toBe('bootstrap-bearer'))
       const renderCountAfterBootstrap = renderTimes.length
 
-      // Force a 401-retry cycle on a downstream authed call.
+      // Force a 401-retry cycle on a downstream authed call. New /users/me
+      // handler returns 401 once, then 200 — exercises api/client.ts:73.
       let firstHit = true
       let refreshHits = 0
       server.use(
@@ -191,22 +235,29 @@ describe('AZ-457 / src/auth/AuthContext.tsx — bootstrap, refresh, storage disc
   describe('NFT-SEC-01 (row 04) — bearer never in localStorage / sessionStorage', () => {
     it('over the entire test lifetime: no setItem call, no key/value contains the bearer', async () => {
       // Arrange — full bootstrap + refresh + downstream-authed call lifecycle.
+      // AZ-510 wire shape: bootstrap = POST refresh -> { token } + chained GET
+      // /users/me. The /users/me handler returns 200 the first time (bootstrap
+      // chain), 401 the second time (forces 401-retry), then 200 again (post-
+      // retry replay).
       const BEARER = 'leak-trap-bearer-' + Date.now()
-      let firstUsersMe = true
+      let refreshCallCount = 0
+      let usersMeCallCount = 0
       server.use(
-        http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () =>
-          HttpResponse.json({
-            user: { id: 'user-alice', email: 'op_alice@test.local', name: 'Alice', role: 'op', permissions: [] },
-            token: BEARER,
-          }),
-        ),
-        http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => HttpResponse.json({ token: BEARER + '-rotated' })),
+        http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => {
+          refreshCallCount += 1
+          // Call 1 = bootstrap; subsequent calls = 401-retry rotation. Both
+          // are credential-only (no Authorization header), so order is the
+          // only discriminator.
+          return HttpResponse.json({ token: refreshCallCount === 1 ? BEARER : BEARER + '-rotated' })
+        }),
         http.get('/api/admin/users/me', () => {
-          if (firstUsersMe) {
-            firstUsersMe = false
+          usersMeCallCount += 1
+          // Bootstrap chain (call 1) -> success; downstream test call (call 2)
+          // -> 401 forces a refresh; post-refresh replay (call 3) -> success.
+          if (usersMeCallCount === 2) {
             return new HttpResponse(null, { status: 401 })
           }
-          return HttpResponse.json({ id: 'user-alice', email: 'op_alice@test.local' })
+          return HttpResponse.json({ id: 'user-alice', email: 'op_alice@test.local', name: 'Alice', role: 'op', permissions: [] })
         }),
       )
 
@@ -239,15 +290,15 @@ describe('AZ-457 / src/auth/AuthContext.tsx — bootstrap, refresh, storage disc
       // refresh material, it would surface in `document.cookie` here.
       // (HttpOnly cookies set by the real admin/ service are invisible to JS;
       // jsdom's MSW responses set no cookies at all unless the test does.)
+      // AZ-510 wire shape: bootstrap = POST refresh + chained /users/me; the
+      // explicit downstream /users/me call below succeeds without rotation
+      // (the rotated-bearer assertion below is a defence-in-depth check —
+      // the value never appears anywhere because no rotation is triggered).
       server.use(
-        http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () =>
-          HttpResponse.json({
-            user: { id: 'user-alice', email: 'op_alice@test.local', name: 'Alice', role: 'op', permissions: [] },
-            token: 'bootstrap-bearer-XYZ',
-          }),
+        http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => HttpResponse.json({ token: 'bootstrap-bearer-XYZ' })),
+        http.get('/api/admin/users/me', () =>
+          HttpResponse.json({ id: 'user-alice', email: 'op_alice@test.local', name: 'Alice', role: 'op', permissions: [] }),
         ),
-        http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => HttpResponse.json({ token: 'rotated-bearer-ABC' })),
-        http.get('/api/admin/users/me', () => HttpResponse.json({ id: 'user-alice', email: 'op_alice@test.local' })),
       )
 
       // Act — bootstrap + an authed call.
diff --git a/src/auth/AuthContext.tsx b/src/auth/AuthContext.tsx
index 75393b7..47dad98 100644
--- a/src/auth/AuthContext.tsx
+++ b/src/auth/AuthContext.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { createContext, useContext, useState, useCallback, useEffect, type ReactNode } from 'react'
-import { api, endpoints, setToken } from '../api'
+import { api, endpoints, getApiBase, setToken } from '../api'
 import type { AuthUser } from '../types'
 
 interface AuthState {
@@ -16,18 +16,81 @@ export function useAuth() {
   return useContext(AuthContext)
 }
 
+// React 18+ StrictMode double-invokes effects in dev (mount → cleanup → mount),
+// and the backend rotates the refresh cookie on every successful POST. Two
+// concurrent bootstraps would race the rotation and leave the second one with
+// a stale cookie. The module-scoped in-flight promise lets the second mount
+// await the first's network round-trip instead of duplicating it. Risk 4 in
+// AZ-510 spec.
+let bootstrapInflight: Promise<AuthUser | null> | null = null
+
+/**
+ * Test-only hook to clear the module-scoped in-flight bootstrap promise
+ * between Vitest tests. Production never imports this — it exists because
+ * Vitest does not reset module state between tests, so a test that mocks the
+ * bootstrap to never-resolve would otherwise leak a permanently-pending
+ * promise that subsequent tests would await forever. Wired into
+ * `tests/setup.ts` afterEach. Safe-no-op when nothing is in flight.
+ */
+export function __resetBootstrapInflightForTests(): void {
+  bootstrapInflight = null
+}
+
+async function runBootstrap(): Promise<AuthUser | null> {
+  // POST refresh with credentials — the whole point of the consolidation. Goes
+  // through fetch() directly (not api.post) because api.post does not thread
+  // credentials:'include'; widening api.post would change CORS posture for
+  // every authenticated callsite. Same pattern lives in api/client.ts:88 for
+  // the 401-retry refresh path.
+  const refreshRes = await fetch(getApiBase() + endpoints.admin.authRefresh(), {
+    method: 'POST',
+    credentials: 'include',
+  })
+  if (!refreshRes.ok) return null
+  const refreshData = (await refreshRes.json()) as { token: string }
+  setToken(refreshData.token)
+  try {
+    return await api.get<AuthUser>(endpoints.admin.usersMe())
+  } catch (err) {
+    // Refresh succeeded but /users/me failed — clear the bearer so an in-flight
+    // re-render does not see (user: null) alongside an active accessToken
+    // (Constraint #4 in spec).
+    console.error('[AuthContext] Refresh succeeded but /users/me failed:', err)
+    setToken(null)
+    return null
+  }
+}
+
 export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
   const [user, setUser] = useState<AuthUser | null>(null)
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true)
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    api.get<{ user: AuthUser; token: string }>(endpoints.admin.authRefresh())
-      .then(data => {
-        setToken(data.token)
-        setUser(data.user)
+    let cancelled = false
+    const inflight =
+      bootstrapInflight ??
+      (bootstrapInflight = runBootstrap().finally(() => {
+        bootstrapInflight = null
+      }))
+    inflight
+      .then(result => {
+        if (cancelled) return
+        setUser(result)
+        setLoading(false)
       })
-      .catch(() => {})
-      .finally(() => setLoading(false))
+      .catch(err => {
+        // Network error on the POST refresh itself (the /users/me failure path
+        // is handled inside runBootstrap and resolves to null). Reliability NFR
+        // requires loading to flip to false on every failure path.
+        console.error('[AuthContext] Bootstrap failed:', err)
+        if (cancelled) return
+        setToken(null)
+        setUser(null)
+        setLoading(false)
+      })
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true
+    }
   }, [])
 
   const login = useCallback(async (email: string, password: string) => {
@@ -43,7 +106,11 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
   }, [])
 
   const hasPermission = useCallback((perm: string) => {
-    return user?.permissions.includes(perm) ?? false
+    // `permissions` is required by the AuthUser type but the runtime payload
+    // from `/users/me` may omit it (older backend builds, or test fixtures
+    // returning the bare User shape). Treat missing as "no permissions" rather
+    // than crashing the React tree.
+    return user?.permissions?.includes(perm) ?? false
   }, [user])
 
   return (
diff --git a/src/auth/ProtectedRoute.test.tsx b/src/auth/ProtectedRoute.test.tsx
index e3ff8f0..1d918bb 100644
--- a/src/auth/ProtectedRoute.test.tsx
+++ b/src/auth/ProtectedRoute.test.tsx
@@ -49,9 +49,13 @@ function SettingsSentinel() {
 }
 
 function withUser(user: typeof opAlice) {
+  // AZ-510 wire shape: bootstrap = POST refresh -> { token } + chained GET
+  // /users/me -> user. The previous shape (GET refresh returning { user, token })
+  // was the broken bootstrap path the consolidation removed.
   server.use(
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () =>
-      jsonResponse({ token: 'test-bearer-default', user: { ...user, permissions: seedPermissions[user.id] ?? [] } }),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => jsonResponse({ token: 'test-bearer-default' })),
+    http.get('/api/admin/users/me', () =>
+      jsonResponse({ ...user, permissions: seedPermissions[user.id] ?? [] }),
     ),
   )
 }
@@ -66,7 +70,7 @@ describe('AZ-457 / src/auth/ProtectedRoute.tsx — redirect to /login', () => {
       // Arrange — bootstrap refresh returns 401 (no session), AuthProvider's
       // catch arm leaves user=null and loading=false.
       server.use(
-        http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new HttpResponse(null, { status: 401 })),
+        http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new HttpResponse(null, { status: 401 })),
       )
 
       // Act
@@ -98,7 +102,7 @@ describe('AZ-457 / src/auth/ProtectedRoute.tsx — redirect to /login', () => {
         resolver = r
       })
       server.use(
-        http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', async () => {
+        http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', async () => {
           await gate
           return new HttpResponse(null, { status: 401 })
         }),
@@ -136,7 +140,7 @@ describe('AZ-457 / src/auth/ProtectedRoute.tsx — redirect to /login', () => {
     it('failed bootstrap refresh routes the user to /login', async () => {
       // Arrange — expired-cookie 401 + no user in context.
       server.use(
-        http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new HttpResponse(null, { status: 401 })),
+        http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new HttpResponse(null, { status: 401 })),
       )
 
       // Act
@@ -177,7 +181,7 @@ describe('AZ-467 / src/auth/ProtectedRoute.tsx — spinner, timeout, RBAC', () =
       async () => {
         // Arrange — keep bootstrap pending forever so the spinner stays mounted.
         server.use(
-          http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', async () => {
+          http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', async () => {
             await new Promise<void>(() => { /* never resolves */ })
             return new HttpResponse(null, { status: 200 })
           }),
@@ -210,7 +214,7 @@ describe('AZ-467 / src/auth/ProtectedRoute.tsx — spinner, timeout, RBAC', () =
 
     it('control — spinner renders today as a bare animate-spin div with no aria role (drift seen)', async () => {
       server.use(
-        http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', async () => {
+        http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', async () => {
           await new Promise<void>(() => { /* never resolves */ })
           return new HttpResponse(null, { status: 200 })
         }),
@@ -248,7 +252,7 @@ describe('AZ-467 / src/auth/ProtectedRoute.tsx — spinner, timeout, RBAC', () =
         // noise. Once the production path lands the assertion shape is below.
         vi.useFakeTimers()
         server.use(
-          http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', async () => {
+          http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', async () => {
             await new Promise<void>(() => { /* never */ })
             return new HttpResponse(null, { status: 200 })
           }),
@@ -271,7 +275,7 @@ describe('AZ-467 / src/auth/ProtectedRoute.tsx — spinner, timeout, RBAC', () =
     it('control — bootstrap stuck at >10s today shows ONLY the spinner; no fallback (drift seen)', async () => {
       vi.useFakeTimers()
       server.use(
-        http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', async () => {
+        http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', async () => {
           await new Promise<void>(() => { /* never */ })
           return new HttpResponse(null, { status: 200 })
         }),
diff --git a/src/auth/index.ts b/src/auth/index.ts
index 2559761..e31bb57 100644
--- a/src/auth/index.ts
+++ b/src/auth/index.ts
@@ -1,2 +1,6 @@
 export { AuthProvider, useAuth } from './AuthContext'
+// Test-only helper — see AuthContext.tsx jsdoc. Production callers MUST NOT
+// import this (the underscore prefix flags the intent and ESLint
+// `no-restricted-syntax` could be added later if abuse appears).
+export { __resetBootstrapInflightForTests } from './AuthContext'
 export { default as ProtectedRoute } from './ProtectedRoute'
diff --git a/src/components/Header.test.tsx b/src/components/Header.test.tsx
index 4ed072c..a8032cf 100644
--- a/src/components/Header.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Header.test.tsx
@@ -48,8 +48,10 @@ function mountHeader() {
 
 function wireAuthAndFlights() {
   server.use(
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () =>
-      jsonResponse({ token: 'test-bearer-default', user: { ...opAlice, permissions: seedPermissions[opAlice.id] ?? [] } }),
+    // AZ-510 — bootstrap = POST refresh -> { token } + chained GET /users/me.
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => jsonResponse({ token: 'test-bearer-default' })),
+    http.get('/api/admin/users/me', () =>
+      jsonResponse({ ...opAlice, permissions: seedPermissions[opAlice.id] ?? [] }),
     ),
     http.get('/api/flights', ({ request }) => {
       const url = new URL(request.url)
diff --git a/tests/annotations_endpoint.test.tsx b/tests/annotations_endpoint.test.tsx
index e532f73..a45a1ab 100644
--- a/tests/annotations_endpoint.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/annotations_endpoint.test.tsx
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ function captureSavePost(): { saves: CapturedSave[] } {
     }),
     http.get('/api/annotations/classes', () => jsonResponse([])),
     http.get('/api/annotations/dataset/info', () => jsonResponse({ totalCount: 1, statusCounts: {} })),
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
   )
   return { saves }
 }
diff --git a/tests/browser_support_responsive.test.tsx b/tests/browser_support_responsive.test.tsx
index eb8e737..281a103 100644
--- a/tests/browser_support_responsive.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/browser_support_responsive.test.tsx
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import { FlightProvider, Header } from '../src/components'
 
 function rigHeaderEnv(): void {
   server.use(
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
     http.get('/api/flights', () => jsonResponse(paginate([], 1, 1000))),
     http.get('/api/annotations/settings/user', () => new Response(null, { status: 404 })),
   )
diff --git a/tests/bulk_validate.test.tsx b/tests/bulk_validate.test.tsx
index 96d2326..278d558 100644
--- a/tests/bulk_validate.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/bulk_validate.test.tsx
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ function rigDatasetAndBulk(): SyncRig {
   const validatedAfterPost = { current: false }
 
   server.use(
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
     http.get('/api/flights', () => jsonResponse(paginate([], 1, 1000))),
     http.get('/api/annotations/settings/user', () => new Response(null, { status: 404 })),
     http.put('/api/annotations/settings/user', () => new Response(null, { status: 200 })),
diff --git a/tests/canvas_editor.test.tsx b/tests/canvas_editor.test.tsx
index b7c1421..17ebd8c 100644
--- a/tests/canvas_editor.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/canvas_editor.test.tsx
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ describe('AZ-471 — CanvasEditor (draw / resize / multi-select / zoom / pan)',
     // an unhandled request triggers MSW's onUnhandledRequest:'error'. A 401
     // here keeps AuthProvider's `.catch` quiet (loading flips to false) and
     // satisfies AC-3 of AZ-456.
-    server.use(http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })))
+    server.use(http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })))
 
     // Force the container's clientWidth/Height (jsdom default = 0) so the
     // CanvasEditor's `useEffect(isVideo)` populates `imgSize` to 640×480.
diff --git a/tests/destructive_ux.test.tsx b/tests/destructive_ux.test.tsx
index 5b00d30..cbdfefe 100644
--- a/tests/destructive_ux.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/destructive_ux.test.tsx
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ function captureClassDelete(): { deletes: CapturedDelete[] } {
     // AuthContext bootstraps with GET /api/admin/auth/refresh; tests using
     // <ProtectedRoute>-less render still mount AuthProvider. Return 401 so
     // the unauth path resolves quickly and bootstrap finishes.
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
   )
   return { deletes }
 }
diff --git a/tests/detection_classes.test.tsx b/tests/detection_classes.test.tsx
index c48aa19..84f63bd 100644
--- a/tests/detection_classes.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/detection_classes.test.tsx
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ function captureClassesGets(payload: DetectionClass[], opts?: { status?: number
     // unhandled-request errors without affecting these tests (AuthProvider's
     // .catch swallows the failure and DetectionClasses doesn't depend on auth
     // user state).
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
   )
   return calls
 }
diff --git a/tests/detection_endpoints.test.tsx b/tests/detection_endpoints.test.tsx
index d932d4f..22c82c5 100644
--- a/tests/detection_endpoints.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/detection_endpoints.test.tsx
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ function captureDetectAndBootstrap(opts?: {
 
     // Bootstrap — minimal handlers so <AnnotationsPage> mounts cleanly and
     // <MediaList> shows the seeded media item.
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
     http.get('/api/flights', () => jsonResponse(paginate([], 1, 1000))),
     http.get('/api/annotations/settings/user', () => new Response(null, { status: 404 })),
     http.put('/api/annotations/settings/user', () => new Response(null, { status: 200 })),
diff --git a/tests/flight_selection_persistence.test.tsx b/tests/flight_selection_persistence.test.tsx
index 314a6a4..477921f 100644
--- a/tests/flight_selection_persistence.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/flight_selection_persistence.test.tsx
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ function rigFlightEnv(opts?: { seedSelectedFlightId?: string | null }): FlightRi
 
   server.use(
     // AuthProvider GET — silence MSW unhandled warnings.
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
 
     http.get('/api/flights', () => jsonResponse(paginate(seedFlights, 1, 1000))),
 
diff --git a/tests/form_hygiene.test.tsx b/tests/form_hygiene.test.tsx
index 80e00b9..b0594b7 100644
--- a/tests/form_hygiene.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/form_hygiene.test.tsx
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ function captureSettingsPut(): { puts: CapturedPut[] } {
       }),
     ),
     http.get('/api/flights/aircrafts', () => jsonResponse([])),
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
   )
   return { puts }
 }
diff --git a/tests/msw/handlers/admin.ts b/tests/msw/handlers/admin.ts
index ac0ad8b..43fe39e 100644
--- a/tests/msw/handlers/admin.ts
+++ b/tests/msw/handlers/admin.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { http } from 'msw'
 import { jsonResponse, noContent, paginate } from '../helpers'
-import { seedUsers, opAlice } from '../../fixtures/seed_users'
+import { seedUsers, opAlice, seedPermissions } from '../../fixtures/seed_users'
 import { seedClasses } from '../../fixtures/seed_classes'
 
 // Default `/api/admin/*` handlers — auth round-trip, users, classes-write,
@@ -28,7 +28,13 @@ export const adminHandlers = [
 
   http.post('/api/admin/auth/logout', () => noContent()),
 
-  http.get('/api/admin/users/me', () => jsonResponse(opAlice)),
+  // AZ-510 chains GET /users/me after POST refresh during AuthProvider
+  // bootstrap. The default user shape includes `permissions` so production
+  // code paths (e.g., hasPermission, RBAC route gates) get a realistic
+  // payload without each test having to override.
+  http.get('/api/admin/users/me', () =>
+    jsonResponse({ ...opAlice, permissions: seedPermissions[opAlice.id] ?? [] }),
+  ),
 
   http.get('/api/admin/users', () => jsonResponse(paginate(seedUsers))),
 
diff --git a/tests/network_resilience.test.tsx b/tests/network_resilience.test.tsx
index 600b428..2cdacaf 100644
--- a/tests/network_resilience.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/network_resilience.test.tsx
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ const seedAnnotation: AnnotationListItem = {
 
 function rigDownloadEnv() {
   server.use(
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
     http.get('/api/flights', () => jsonResponse(paginate(seedFlights, 1, 1000))),
     http.get('/api/flights/:id', ({ params }) => {
       const f = seedFlights.find((x) => x.id === params.id)
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ describe('AZ-478 — AC-3 (NFT-RES-10): SSE disconnect surfaces a connection-los
   beforeEach(() => {
     restoreEs = installFakeEventSource()
     server.use(
-      http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+      http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
     )
   })
 
diff --git a/tests/panel_width_persistence.test.tsx b/tests/panel_width_persistence.test.tsx
index 5269ae3..3cd39b0 100644
--- a/tests/panel_width_persistence.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/panel_width_persistence.test.tsx
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ function rigPanelEnv(opts?: { seedSettings?: boolean }): { puts: CapturedPut[] }
   const puts: CapturedPut[] = []
 
   server.use(
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
     http.get('/api/flights', () => jsonResponse(paginate([], 1, 1000))),
     // The user settings GET — when seedSettings is true, return a payload
     // that includes both the legacy per-page width fields AND a `panelWidths`
diff --git a/tests/photo_mode.test.tsx b/tests/photo_mode.test.tsx
index 5c10123..8202ee7 100644
--- a/tests/photo_mode.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/photo_mode.test.tsx
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ function makeHarnessState(): HarnessState {
 
 function captureClassesGet(payload: DetectionClass[]) {
   server.use(
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
     http.get('/api/annotations/classes', () => jsonResponse(payload)),
   )
 }
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ interface PostCapture {
 function rigSaveEnv(): PostCapture {
   const classNums: number[][] = []
   server.use(
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
     http.get('/api/flights', () => jsonResponse(paginate(seedFlights, 1, 1000))),
     http.get('/api/flights/:id', ({ params }) => {
       const f = seedFlights.find((x) => x.id === params.id)
diff --git a/tests/settings_resilience.test.tsx b/tests/settings_resilience.test.tsx
index e44acc7..3e70d26 100644
--- a/tests/settings_resilience.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/settings_resilience.test.tsx
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ function rigSettingsEnv(failure: SettingsFailure): SettingsRig {
   const responseAt = { value: null as number | null }
 
   server.use(
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
     http.get('/api/annotations/settings/system', () => jsonResponse(SYSTEM_SEED)),
     http.get('/api/annotations/settings/directories', () => jsonResponse(DIRS_SEED)),
     http.get('/api/flights/aircrafts', () => jsonResponse(seedAircraft)),
diff --git a/tests/setup.ts b/tests/setup.ts
index a64d109..bb2686f 100644
--- a/tests/setup.ts
+++ b/tests/setup.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { afterAll, afterEach, beforeAll } from 'vitest'
 import { cleanup } from '@testing-library/react'
 import { server } from './msw/server'
 import { setToken, setNavigateToLogin } from '../src/api'
+import { __resetBootstrapInflightForTests } from '../src/auth'
 
 // JSDOM polyfills for browser APIs production code touches at mount time.
 // These are no-op stubs — tests that exercise the actual behavior install
@@ -57,6 +58,9 @@ afterEach(() => {
     /* default no-op for tests; production accessor restored implicitly
        on next module reload — tests must re-seed if they assert on it. */
   })
+  // AZ-510 — clear AuthProvider's module-scoped in-flight bootstrap promise so
+  // a never-resolving fixture in test N does not leak into test N+1.
+  __resetBootstrapInflightForTests()
 })
 
 afterAll(() => {
diff --git a/tests/tile_split_zoom.test.tsx b/tests/tile_split_zoom.test.tsx
index 8350c85..df50024 100644
--- a/tests/tile_split_zoom.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/tile_split_zoom.test.tsx
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ function datasetRowFromAnnotation(a: AnnotationListItem): DatasetItem {
 beforeEach(() => {
   seedBearer()
   server.use(
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
     // FlightProvider mounts a user-settings fetch when authenticated. The
     // dataset surface does not depend on it; we satisfy MSW's unhandled-
     // request gate with a 404 so the noise does not pollute the report.
diff --git a/tests/upload_size_cap.test.tsx b/tests/upload_size_cap.test.tsx
index 94195e9..107f4b5 100644
--- a/tests/upload_size_cap.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/upload_size_cap.test.tsx
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ function rigUploadEnv(opts: { uploadStatus: number }): UploadRig {
   const posts: { url: string; pathname: string; status: number }[] = []
 
   server.use(
-    http.get('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
+    http.post('/api/admin/auth/refresh', () => new Response(null, { status: 401 })),
     http.get('/api/flights', () => jsonResponse(paginate(seedFlights, 1, 1000))),
     http.get('/api/flights/:id', ({ params }) => {
       const f = seedFlights.find((x) => x.id === params.id)