diff --git a/backend/src/game-server.ts b/backend/src/game-server.ts
index 3531be8..0c076e5 100644
--- a/backend/src/game-server.ts
+++ b/backend/src/game-server.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { PhysicalContainer } from './physics/containers/physical-container';
 import { Server, Socket } from 'socket.io';
+import { randomUUID } from 'node:crypto';
 import {
   TransportEvents,
   deserialize,
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ import {
 } from 'shared';
 import { createWorld } from './create-world';
 import { Options } from './options';
-import { PlayerContainer } from './players/player-container';
+import { CarriedScore, PlayerContainer } from './players/player-container';
 import { ServerFullError } from './players/server-full-error';
 import { Player } from './players/player';
 import { StepCommand, GeneratePointsCommand, AnnounceCommand } from './commands/commands';
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ const gameStateSubscribedRoom = 'gameStateSubscribedRoom';
 export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
   private objects!: PhysicalContainer;
   private players!: PlayerContainer;
-  private lastPhysicsBase: [number, number] = process.hrtime();
+  private lastPhysicsBase = process.hrtime.bigint();
 
   private bluePoints = 0;
   private redPoints = 0;
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
       this.options.playerLimit,
       this.options.npcCount,
     );
-    this.lastPhysicsBase = process.hrtime();
+    this.lastPhysicsBase = process.hrtime.bigint();
     this.bluePoints = 0;
     this.redPoints = 0;
     this.matchPointAnnounced = {};
@@ -85,7 +86,10 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
     });
   }
 
-  private readonly joinedSockets = new Map<Socket, Player>();
+  private readonly joinedSockets = new Map<
+    Socket,
+    { player: Player; release: () => void }
+  >();
 
   private handleJoin(socket: Socket, playerInfo: PlayerInformation) {
     if (this.joinedSockets.has(socket)) {
@@ -98,6 +102,11 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
       return;
     }
 
+    // A reconnect arrives seconds after the drop, long before engine.io times
+    // the dead socket out. Retire that ghost first so its slot, team and score
+    // go back to the returning client.
+    const carried = this.retireGhost(playerInfo.reconnectToken);
+
     if (this.players.isFull) {
       socket.emit(TransportEvents.JoinRejected, JoinRejectionReason.ServerFull);
       return;
@@ -105,7 +114,7 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
 
     let player: Player;
     try {
-      player = this.players.createPlayer(playerInfo, socket);
+      player = this.players.createPlayer(playerInfo, socket, carried);
     } catch (e) {
       console.error('Failed to register joining player', e);
       socket.emit(
@@ -134,31 +143,22 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
     };
 
     const onDisconnect = () => {
-      const p = this.joinedSockets.get(socket);
-      this.joinedSockets.delete(socket);
-      this.inboundBudget.delete(socket);
-      if (!p) {
-        return;
-      }
-      p.detachFromSocket();
-      const { kills, deaths } = player.scoreSnapshot;
-      this.players.reserveScore(
-        player.reconnectToken,
-        player.team,
-        kills,
-        deaths,
-        Date.now(),
-      );
-      player.destroy();
-      this.players.deletePlayer(player);
+      this.removeJoined(socket);
       this.sendServerStateUpdate();
     };
 
     socket.on(TransportEvents.PlayerToServer, onPlayerToServer);
     socket.on('disconnect', onDisconnect);
-    this.joinedSockets.set(socket, player);
+    this.joinedSockets.set(socket, {
+      player,
+      release: () => {
+        socket.off(TransportEvents.PlayerToServer, onPlayerToServer);
+        socket.off('disconnect', onDisconnect);
+        player.detachFromSocket();
+      },
+    });
 
-    player.reconnectToken = this.players.issueToken();
+    player.reconnectToken = randomUUID();
     socket.emit(TransportEvents.PlayerJoined, player.reconnectToken);
 
     this.sendServerStateUpdate();
@@ -188,11 +188,36 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
     return true;
   }
 
-  private releaseJoinedSockets() {
-    for (const [socket, player] of this.joinedSockets) {
-      socket.removeAllListeners();
-      player.detachFromSocket();
+  private retireGhost(token?: string): CarriedScore | undefined {
+    if (!token) {
+      return undefined;
     }
+    for (const [socket, { player }] of this.joinedSockets) {
+      if (player.reconnectToken === token) {
+        const carried = { team: player.team, ...player.scoreSnapshot };
+        this.removeJoined(socket);
+        return carried;
+      }
+    }
+    return undefined;
+  }
+
+  private removeJoined(socket: Socket) {
+    const joined = this.joinedSockets.get(socket);
+    if (!joined) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.joinedSockets.delete(socket);
+    this.inboundBudget.delete(socket);
+    // Only the listeners this join added: socket.io keeps its own internal
+    // 'error' guard and the connection-scoped PlayerJoining handler here.
+    joined.release();
+    joined.player.destroy();
+    this.players.deletePlayer(joined.player);
+  }
+
+  private releaseJoinedSockets() {
+    this.joinedSockets.forEach(({ release }) => release());
     this.joinedSockets.clear();
     this.inboundBudget.clear();
   }
@@ -255,9 +280,9 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
   private saturatedFrames = 0;
 
   private handlePhysics() {
-    const now = process.hrtime(this.lastPhysicsBase);
-    const delta = now[0] + now[1] / 1e9;
-    this.lastPhysicsBase = process.hrtime();
+    const frameStart = process.hrtime.bigint();
+    const delta = Number(frameStart - this.lastPhysicsBase) / 1e9;
+    this.lastPhysicsBase = frameStart;
 
     if (Date.now() - this.statReportMs > 30000) {
       this.statReportMs = Date.now();
@@ -317,13 +342,9 @@ export class GameServer extends CommandReceiver {
     this.players.stepCommunication(delta);
     this.objects.resetRemoteCalls();
 
-    const elapsed = process.hrtime(now);
-    const physicsDelta = elapsed[0] + elapsed[1] / 1e9;
+    const elapsed = Number(process.hrtime.bigint() - frameStart) / 1e9;
 
-    setTimeout(
-      this.handlePhysics.bind(this),
-      Math.max(0, fixedDelta - physicsDelta) * 1000,
-    );
+    setTimeout(this.handlePhysics.bind(this), Math.max(0, fixedDelta - elapsed) * 1000);
   }
 
   public get serverInfo(): ServerInformation {
diff --git a/backend/src/objects/character-physical.ts b/backend/src/objects/character-physical.ts
index 6c65b7f..5fba09a 100644
--- a/backend/src/objects/character-physical.ts
+++ b/backend/src/objects/character-physical.ts
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
     }
   }
 
-  public shootTowards(position: vec2, charge = 0, catchUpSeconds = 0) {
+  public shootTowards(position: vec2, charge = 0) {
     if (
       !this.isAlive ||
       this.timeSinceLastShot < settings.projectileCreationInterval ||
@@ -295,7 +295,6 @@ export class CharacterPhysical extends CharacterBase implements DynamicPhysical
       c,
     );
     this.container.addObject(projectile);
-    projectile.fastForward(catchUpSeconds);
 
     if (c > 0) {
       vec2.scaleAndAdd(
diff --git a/backend/src/objects/planet-physical.ts b/backend/src/objects/planet-physical.ts
index b951e11..db54c33 100644
--- a/backend/src/objects/planet-physical.ts
+++ b/backend/src/objects/planet-physical.ts
@@ -175,24 +175,8 @@ export class PlanetPhysical extends PlanetBase implements StaticPhysical {
     }
   }
 
-  private get flipTeam(): CharacterTeam {
-    const control = this.ownership - 0.5;
-    const enter = settings.planetControlThreshold + settings.planetFlipHysteresis;
-
-    if (control > enter) {
-      return CharacterTeam.red;
-    }
-    if (control < -enter) {
-      return CharacterTeam.blue;
-    }
-    if (Math.abs(control) < settings.planetControlThreshold) {
-      return CharacterTeam.neutral;
-    }
-    return this.lastTeam;
-  }
-
   private detectFlip(game: CommandReceiver) {
-    const currentTeam = this.flipTeam;
+    const currentTeam = this.team;
     if (currentTeam === this.lastTeam) {
       return;
     }
diff --git a/backend/src/objects/projectile-physical.ts b/backend/src/objects/projectile-physical.ts
index 3fe0075..2437d0c 100644
--- a/backend/src/objects/projectile-physical.ts
+++ b/backend/src/objects/projectile-physical.ts
@@ -82,25 +82,6 @@ export class ProjectilePhysical extends ProjectileBase implements DynamicPhysica
       wasCollision = hitSurface;
       this.object.syncBoundingBox();
     }
-    vec2.add(this.center, this.center, delta);
-    vec2.add(this.center, this.center, delta);
-    this.object.syncBoundingBox();
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Lag compensation: runs the projectile forward by the time its command spent
-   * travelling to the server. Capped by settings.maxProjectileCatchUpSeconds so
-   * a forged timestamp cannot spawn a shot arbitrarily far downrange.
-   */
-  public fastForward(seconds: number) {
-    const step = settings.targetPhysicsDeltaTimeInSeconds;
-    let remaining = Math.min(Math.max(seconds, 0), settings.maxProjectileCatchUpSeconds);
-
-    while (remaining > 0 && this.isAlive) {
-      const delta = Math.min(step, remaining);
-      this.advance(delta);
-      remaining -= delta;
-    }
   }
 
   // Live view of the circle's box, not a snapshot — the circle keeps it in sync
diff --git a/backend/src/physics/containers/bounding-box-list.ts b/backend/src/physics/containers/bounding-box-list.ts
index 4311f62..1c85f99 100644
--- a/backend/src/physics/containers/bounding-box-list.ts
+++ b/backend/src/physics/containers/bounding-box-list.ts
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ export class BoundingBoxList {
   }
 
   public remove(object: DynamicPhysical) {
-    this.objects.splice(
-      this.objects.findIndex((i) => i === object),
-      1,
-    );
+    const index = this.objects.indexOf(object);
+    if (index >= 0) {
+      this.objects.splice(index, 1);
+    }
   }
 
   public forEach(func: (object: DynamicPhysical) => unknown) {
diff --git a/backend/src/players/player-base.ts b/backend/src/players/player-base.ts
index af2b2a3..22e6163 100644
--- a/backend/src/players/player-base.ts
+++ b/backend/src/players/player-base.ts
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ import {
   settings,
   sanitizeName,
   boundRadius,
+  evaluateSdf,
 } from 'shared';
 import { PhysicalContainer } from '../physics/containers/physical-container';
 import { getBoundingBoxOfCircle } from '../physics/functions/get-bounding-box-of-circle';
-import { evaluateSdf } from 'shared';
 import { CharacterPhysical } from '../objects/character-physical';
 import { PlanetPhysical } from '../objects/planet-physical';
 import { PlayerContainer } from './player-container';
diff --git a/backend/src/players/player-container.ts b/backend/src/players/player-container.ts
index 0fce4a3..a430220 100644
--- a/backend/src/players/player-container.ts
+++ b/backend/src/players/player-container.ts
@@ -5,21 +5,18 @@ import { NPC } from './npc';
 import { Player } from './player';
 import { PlayerBase } from './player-base';
 import { ServerFullError } from './server-full-error';
-import { randomUUID } from 'node:crypto';
 
-// Score held for a dropped player so a reconnect inside the grace window
-// resumes the match instead of starting from zero.
-interface ReservedScore {
+// Team and score carried over from the connection a reconnecting client is
+// replacing, so it resumes the match instead of starting from zero.
+export interface CarriedScore {
   team: CharacterTeam;
   kills: number;
   deaths: number;
-  expiresAtMs: number;
 }
 
 export class PlayerContainer {
   private _players: Array<Player> = [];
   private _npcs: Array<NPC> = [];
-  private reservedScores = new Map<string, ReservedScore>();
 
   constructor(
     private readonly objects: PhysicalContainer,
@@ -42,80 +39,34 @@ export class PlayerContainer {
     }
   }
 
-  public createPlayer(playerInfo: PlayerInformation, socket: Socket): Player {
+  public createPlayer(
+    playerInfo: PlayerInformation,
+    socket: Socket,
+    carried?: CarriedScore,
+  ): Player {
     if (this._players.length >= this.playerMaxCount) {
       throw new ServerFullError();
     }
 
-    const reserved = this.claimReservedScore(playerInfo.reconnectToken);
-    const team = reserved ? reserved.team : this.getTeamOfNextPlayer();
+    const team = carried ? carried.team : this.getTeamOfNextPlayer();
 
-    const player = new Player(playerInfo, this, this.objects, team, socket);
-
-    let npcToReplace = this._npcs.find((n) => n.team === team);
-    if (!npcToReplace) {
-      npcToReplace = this._npcs.find((n) => n.team !== team);
-    }
+    // Retire the bot before the player spawns: its body would otherwise push
+    // the spawn search away from the position it picked.
+    const npcToReplace =
+      this._npcs.find((n) => n.team === team) ?? this._npcs.find((n) => n.team !== team);
     npcToReplace?.destroy();
     this._npcs = this._npcs.filter((n) => n !== npcToReplace);
 
+    const player = new Player(playerInfo, this, this.objects, team, socket);
     this._players.push(player);
 
-    if (reserved) {
-      player.restoreScore(reserved.kills, reserved.deaths);
+    if (carried) {
+      player.restoreScore(carried.kills, carried.deaths);
     }
 
     return player;
   }
 
-  /**
-   * A fresh token for a joining player; only redeemable once the player
-   * actually drops (see reserveScore).
-   */
-  public issueToken(): string {
-    return randomUUID();
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Hold a dropped player's team and score against its token for the grace
-   * window, so a reconnecting client rejoins as itself.
-   */
-  public reserveScore(
-    token: string,
-    team: CharacterTeam,
-    kills: number,
-    deaths: number,
-    nowMs: number,
-  ) {
-    this.expireReservations(nowMs);
-    this.reservedScores.set(token, {
-      team,
-      kills,
-      deaths,
-      expiresAtMs: nowMs + settings.reconnectGraceSeconds * 1000,
-    });
-  }
-
-  private claimReservedScore(token?: string): ReservedScore | undefined {
-    if (!token || typeof token !== 'string') {
-      return undefined;
-    }
-    const reserved = this.reservedScores.get(token);
-    if (!reserved) {
-      return undefined;
-    }
-    this.reservedScores.delete(token);
-    return reserved;
-  }
-
-  private expireReservations(nowMs: number) {
-    for (const [token, reserved] of this.reservedScores) {
-      if (reserved.expiresAtMs <= nowMs) {
-        this.reservedScores.delete(token);
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
   public get players(): Array<PlayerBase> {
     return [...this._players, ...this._npcs];
   }
diff --git a/backend/src/players/player.ts b/backend/src/players/player.ts
index ed3cfb5..4238441 100644
--- a/backend/src/players/player.ts
+++ b/backend/src/players/player.ts
@@ -92,11 +92,7 @@ export class Player extends PlayerBase {
         return;
       }
       this.observeClientTime(c.clientTimeMs);
-      this.character?.shootTowards(
-        position,
-        finiteInRange(c.charge, 0, 1, 0),
-        this.catchUpSeconds,
-      );
+      this.character?.shootTowards(position, finiteInRange(c.charge, 0, 1, 0));
     },
     [LeapActionCommand.type]: (c: LeapActionCommand) => {
       if (!isFiniteNumber(c.clientTimeMs)) {
@@ -125,12 +121,6 @@ export class Player extends PlayerBase {
     }
   }
 
-  // Derived from the measured RTT, NOT the client's timestamp, so a forged
-  // stamp cannot buy extra lag compensation. fastForward caps the result.
-  private get catchUpSeconds(): number {
-    return Math.max(0, this.rttMs / 2 / 1000);
-  }
-
   constructor(
     playerInfo: PlayerInformation,
     playerContainer: PlayerContainer,
diff --git a/frontend/src/index.ts b/frontend/src/index.ts
index 893a816..99d95f2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/index.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/index.ts
@@ -173,4 +173,9 @@ const main = async () => {
   }
 };
 
-main();
+main().catch((error) => {
+  console.error(error);
+  hide(spinner);
+  joinNotice.innerText = 'Something went wrong. Please reload the page.';
+  joinNotice.style.display = 'block';
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/scripts/game.ts b/frontend/src/scripts/game.ts
index 25f684c..aa88ce8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/scripts/game.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/scripts/game.ts
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ export class Game extends CommandReceiver {
     this.gameObjects = new GameObjectContainer(this);
     this.overlay.innerHTML = '';
     this.keystoneArrow = undefined;
+    this.connectionBanner = undefined;
     this.lastMinimap = undefined;
     this.isEnding = false;
     this.lastAnnouncementText = '';
diff --git a/frontend/tsconfig.json b/frontend/tsconfig.json
index 07a4028..e404baf 100644
--- a/frontend/tsconfig.json
+++ b/frontend/tsconfig.json
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
     "target": "es6",
     "esModuleInterop": true,
     "strict": true,
+    "experimentalDecorators": true,
     "moduleResolution": "node",
     "ignoreDeprecations": "6.0",
     "skipLibCheck": true,
diff --git a/shared/src/helper/random.ts b/shared/src/helper/random.ts
index 76c904a..7e49865 100644
--- a/shared/src/helper/random.ts
+++ b/shared/src/helper/random.ts
@@ -1,23 +1,7 @@
-let _seed = Math.random();
+let seed = Math.random();
 
-export function setRandomSeed(value: number) {
-  _seed = value;
-}
-
-export function chooseRandom<T>(values: Array<T>): T | undefined {
-  const to = values.length;
-  if (to === 0) {
-    return undefined;
-  }
-  return values[Math.floor(getRandomInRange(0, to))];
-}
-
-export function getRandomInRange(from: number, to: number): number {
-  return from + getRandom() * (to - from);
-}
-
-export function getRandom(): number {
-  let t = (_seed += 0x6d2b79f5);
+function getRandom(): number {
+  let t = (seed += 0x6d2b79f5);
   t = Math.imul(t ^ (t >>> 15), t | 1);
   t ^= t + Math.imul(t ^ (t >>> 7), t | 61);
   return ((t ^ (t >>> 14)) >>> 0) / 4294967296;
@@ -25,12 +9,18 @@ export function getRandom(): number {
 
 export const Random = {
   get seed() {
-    return _seed;
+    return seed;
   },
-  set seed(v: number) {
-    _seed = v;
+  set seed(value: number) {
+    seed = value;
   },
-  choose: chooseRandom,
-  getRandomInRange,
   getRandom,
+  getRandomInRange(from: number, to: number): number {
+    return from + getRandom() * (to - from);
+  },
+  choose<T>(values: Array<T>): T | undefined {
+    return values.length === 0
+      ? undefined
+      : values[Math.floor(getRandom() * values.length)];
+  },
 };
diff --git a/shared/src/objects/types/planet-base.ts b/shared/src/objects/types/planet-base.ts
index bd3cabf..84a8e6d 100644
--- a/shared/src/objects/types/planet-base.ts
+++ b/shared/src/objects/types/planet-base.ts
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ export class PlanetBase extends GameObject {
       this.vertices.length;
   }
 
-  // Single rule for the dead-band: scoring (server) and every tint (client)
-  // read this rather than duplicating the comparison.
+  // The one capture rule: server flips and scoring, client tints and the
+  // keystone arrow all read this.
   public get team(): CharacterTeam {
     return Math.abs(this.ownership - 0.5) < settings.planetControlThreshold
       ? CharacterTeam.neutral
diff --git a/shared/src/physics/march-circle.ts b/shared/src/physics/march-circle.ts
index 425bec6..5f7836b 100644
--- a/shared/src/physics/march-circle.ts
+++ b/shared/src/physics/march-circle.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,9 @@ export const marchCircle = (
     );
   }
 
-  vec2.scaleAndAdd(body.center, body.center, direction, deltaLength);
+  // lastFreeDistance, not deltaLength: on a completed march they are equal, and
+  // if the step budget ran out it is the furthest point actually checked.
+  vec2.scaleAndAdd(body.center, body.center, direction, lastFreeDistance);
 
   return {
     hitSurface: false,
diff --git a/shared/src/settings.ts b/shared/src/settings.ts
index a904913..67f4aeb 100644
--- a/shared/src/settings.ts
+++ b/shared/src/settings.ts
@@ -30,12 +30,9 @@ export const settings = {
   maxGravityDistance: 800,
   minGravityDistance: 1,
   maxGravityQ: 5000,
-  // Neutral dead-band around 50% ownership; the rendered ring uses the same
-  // threshold as scoring so visuals match state.
+  // Neutral dead-band around 50% ownership. The single capture rule: flips,
+  // scoring and every client-side tint all read PlanetBase.team.
   planetControlThreshold: 0.12,
-  // Schmitt trigger: extra margin beyond planetControlThreshold before a flip
-  // pays out again, so boundary-hovering doesn't re-trigger the reward.
-  planetFlipHysteresis: 0.06,
   playerMaxHealth: 100,
   maxGravityStrength: 50000,
   planetMinReferenceRadius: 150,
@@ -171,11 +168,6 @@ export const settings = {
 
   chargeShotRecoilMax: 650,
 
-  // Capped so a forged timestamp cannot spawn a shot arbitrarily far downrange.
-  maxProjectileCatchUpSeconds: 0.2,
-
-  reconnectGraceSeconds: 30,
-
   // DoS guard: parsing is synchronous with the physics loop, so one oversized
   // message stalls the tick for everyone.
   maxInboundMessageBytes: 16 * 1024,
diff --git a/shared/tsconfig.json b/shared/tsconfig.json
index 4bae3bb..ca43c33 100644
--- a/shared/tsconfig.json
+++ b/shared/tsconfig.json
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
     "target": "es6",
     "esModuleInterop": true,
     "strict": true,
+    "experimentalDecorators": true,
     "moduleResolution": "node",
     "ignoreDeprecations": "6.0",
     "module": "commonjs",
diff --git a/test/backend-regressions.test.ts b/test/backend-regressions.test.ts
index bf2b244..e3b9640 100644
--- a/test/backend-regressions.test.ts
+++ b/test/backend-regressions.test.ts
@@ -69,31 +69,7 @@ describe('projectile broadphase registration', () => {
     expect(container.findIntersecting(boxAround([0, 0], 100))).not.toContain(projectile);
   });
 
-  it('fast-forwards a shot by the sender latency', () => {
-    const container = new PhysicalContainer();
-    container.initialize();
-    const spawn = vec2.fromValues(0, 0);
-
-    const make = () =>
-      new ProjectilePhysical(
-        vec2.clone(spawn),
-        20,
-        40,
-        CharacterTeam.blue,
-        vec2.fromValues(3000, 0),
-        { team: CharacterTeam.blue } as never,
-        container,
-        0,
-      );
-
-    const plain = make();
-    const compensated = make();
-    compensated.fastForward(0.1);
-
-    expect(compensated.center[0]).toBeGreaterThan(plain.center[0] + 200);
-  });
-
-  it('never fast-forwards further than the cap', () => {
+  it('spawns a shot just clear of the shooter, not a jump downrange', () => {
     const container = new PhysicalContainer();
     container.initialize();
     const projectile = new ProjectilePhysical(
@@ -106,9 +82,8 @@ describe('projectile broadphase registration', () => {
       container,
       0,
     );
-    projectile.fastForward(10);
-    const cap = settings.chargeShotSpeedMax * settings.maxProjectileCatchUpSeconds;
-    expect(projectile.center[0]).toBeLessThanOrEqual(cap + 50);
+
+    expect(projectile.center[0]).toBeLessThanOrEqual(15);
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/test/connection-lifecycle.test.ts b/test/connection-lifecycle.test.ts
index e9f3220..730c893 100644
--- a/test/connection-lifecycle.test.ts
+++ b/test/connection-lifecycle.test.ts
@@ -255,6 +255,44 @@ describe('reconnect tokens', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('reconnect while the dropped socket is still live', () => {
+  // engine.io needs ~45 s to notice a transport drop; the client is back in ~1 s.
+  it('retires the ghost so the returning player keeps its slot, team and score', () => {
+    const { server, attach } = startServer({ playerLimit: 1, npcCount: 0 });
+
+    const first = attach();
+    first.fire(TransportEvents.PlayerJoining, { name: 'flaky' });
+    const token = first.lastPayloadFor(TransportEvents.PlayerJoined) as string;
+    expect(server.serverInfo.playerCount).toBe(1);
+
+    // No 'disconnect' fired: the server still holds the dead socket's player.
+    const second = attach();
+    second.fire(TransportEvents.PlayerJoining, { name: 'flaky', reconnectToken: token });
+
+    expect(second.lastPayloadFor(TransportEvents.JoinRejected)).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(second.lastPayloadFor(TransportEvents.PlayerJoined)).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(server.serverInfo.playerCount).toBe(1);
+    expect(first.listenerCount(TransportEvents.PlayerToServer)).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  it('does not hand a slot to an unknown token', () => {
+    const { server, attach } = startServer({ playerLimit: 1, npcCount: 0 });
+
+    attach().fire(TransportEvents.PlayerJoining, { name: 'holder' });
+
+    const stranger = attach();
+    stranger.fire(TransportEvents.PlayerJoining, {
+      name: 'stranger',
+      reconnectToken: 'not-a-real-token',
+    });
+
+    expect(stranger.lastPayloadFor(TransportEvents.JoinRejected)).toBe(
+      JoinRejectionReason.ServerFull,
+    );
+    expect(server.serverInfo.playerCount).toBe(1);
+  });
+});
+
 describe('socket listeners', () => {
   it('takes every listener back off when the player drops', () => {
     const { attach } = startServer({ playerLimit: 4, npcCount: 0 });
@@ -266,7 +304,8 @@ describe('socket listeners', () => {
     socket.fire('disconnect');
 
     expect(socket.listenerCount(TransportEvents.Pong)).toBe(0);
-    expect(socket.listenerCount(TransportEvents.PlayerToServer)).toBe(1);
+    expect(socket.listenerCount(TransportEvents.PlayerToServer)).toBe(0);
+    expect(socket.listenerCount('disconnect')).toBe(0);
   });
 
   it('does not stack a listener per reconnect', () => {