diff --git a/lib/merge_orchestration/baton_emitter.ex b/lib/merge_orchestration/baton_emitter.ex
index 5578a1de..0e76db0a 100644
--- a/lib/merge_orchestration/baton_emitter.ex
+++ b/lib/merge_orchestration/baton_emitter.ex
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ defmodule Hypatia.MergeOrchestration.BatonEmitter do
   defp default_submit(spec), do: apply(Bag.Mesh, :submit_planned, [spec])
 
   defp gh_flag(:squash), do: "--squash"
-  defp gh_flag(:rebase), do: "--rebase"
+  # :rebase is never emitted -- a stale decision carrying it squashes (see
+  # Strategist.decide_method/1); rebase is disabled estate-wide.
   defp gh_flag(:merge_commit), do: "--merge"
   defp gh_flag(_), do: "--squash"
 
diff --git a/lib/merge_orchestration/strategist.ex b/lib/merge_orchestration/strategist.ex
index 00c85d53..7898b86c 100644
--- a/lib/merge_orchestration/strategist.ex
+++ b/lib/merge_orchestration/strategist.ex
@@ -77,11 +77,15 @@ defmodule Hypatia.MergeOrchestration.Strategist do
   defp min_safety(a, b), do: if(@order[a] <= @order[b], do: a, else: b)
 
   # --- Method axis: repo policy default ⊕ commit hygiene (never confidence) ---
+  # Never :rebase: rebase-merge replays commits UNSIGNED (119 of 286 unsigned
+  # estate default-branch commits were such replays) and breaks
+  # required_signatures; the estate disables it repo-side (owner ruling
+  # 2026-09-30). An atomic-green series is squashed like any other change;
+  # only a proof keeps its series, as a (GitHub-signed) merge commit.
   defp decide_method(ctx) do
     cond do
       ctx.change_class in [:chore, :bump] -> :squash
       ctx.change_class == :proof -> :merge_commit
-      Map.get(ctx, :commits_atomic_green, false) -> :rebase
       true -> :squash
     end
   end
diff --git a/test/merge_orchestration/baton_emitter_test.exs b/test/merge_orchestration/baton_emitter_test.exs
index 17633be7..a32d06ac 100644
--- a/test/merge_orchestration/baton_emitter_test.exs
+++ b/test/merge_orchestration/baton_emitter_test.exs
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ defmodule Hypatia.MergeOrchestration.BatonEmitterTest do
   end
 
   test "method maps to the gh flag; aggressive pools raise the planner risk" do
-    assert BatonEmitter.to_spec(dec(%{method: :rebase})).command |> List.last() == "--rebase"
+    # rebase replays commits unsigned: a stale :rebase decision must squash
+    assert BatonEmitter.to_spec(dec(%{method: :rebase})).command |> List.last() == "--squash"
     assert BatonEmitter.to_spec(dec(%{method: :merge_commit})).command |> List.last() == "--merge"
     assert BatonEmitter.to_spec(dec(%{pool: :p3})).risk == :high
     assert BatonEmitter.to_spec(dec(%{pool: :mass_squash})).risk == :high
diff --git a/test/merge_orchestration/strategist_test.exs b/test/merge_orchestration/strategist_test.exs
index 8683be1b..8fa378f3 100644
--- a/test/merge_orchestration/strategist_test.exs
+++ b/test/merge_orchestration/strategist_test.exs
@@ -56,6 +56,13 @@ defmodule Hypatia.MergeOrchestration.StrategistTest do
     assert Strategist.decide(ctx(%{pool: :p0})).safety == :flag
   end
 
+  test "an atomic-green commit series squashes: rebase is never chosen" do
+    # a non-chore class, so the method cond reaches its commit-hygiene clauses
+    # (the default :chore squashes on the first clause and would prove nothing)
+    d = Strategist.decide(ctx(%{change_class: :security, commits_atomic_green: true}))
+    assert d.method == :squash
+  end
+
   test "method is set by class, not confidence: a low-confidence chore still squashes" do
     d =
       Strategist.decide(ctx(%{attestations: [%{bot: "ci", verdict: :approve, confidence: 0.10}]}))