diff --git a/src/psyc/cli.py b/src/psyc/cli.py
index d978e6c..b953400 100644
--- a/src/psyc/cli.py
+++ b/src/psyc/cli.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import uvicorn
 
 from psyc import db, log
 from psyc.cockpit import inference
-from psyc.lines import classify, courier, route, scout, seal, train
+from psyc.lines import classify, courier, proof, route, scout, seal, train
 from psyc.lines import map as map_line
 from psyc.models import Outcome
 from psyc.result import Err, Ok
@@ -87,6 +87,27 @@ def classify_all() -> None:
     typer.echo(f"classified {len(cases)} case(s).")
 
 
+@app.command("prove-case")
+def prove_case(case_id: str) -> None:
+    case_result = db.get_case(case_id)
+    if isinstance(case_result, Err):
+        typer.echo(f"error: {case_result.reason}", err=True)
+        raise typer.Exit(1)
+    case = proof.prove(case_result.value)
+    db.upsert_case(case)
+    c = case.confidence
+    typer.echo(f"proved {case.case_id}: confidence {c.level} · reliability {c.source_reliability}{c.information_credibility} · {c.freshness}")
+
+
+@app.command("prove-all")
+def prove_all() -> None:
+    cases = db.list_cases(limit=10_000)
+    for c in cases:
+        proof.prove(c)
+        db.upsert_case(c)
+    typer.echo(f"proved {len(cases)} case(s).")
+
+
 @app.command("map-case")
 def map_case(case_id: str) -> None:
     case_result = db.get_case(case_id)
@@ -285,6 +306,9 @@ def demo() -> None:
         f"{case.classification.severity.value if case.classification.severity else '—'} / "
         f"TLP:{case.classification.tlp.value}"
     )
+    case = proof.prove(case)
+    db.upsert_case(case)
+    typer.echo(f"  + proved: confidence {case.confidence.level} · reliability {case.confidence.source_reliability}{case.confidence.information_credibility} · {case.confidence.freshness}")
     case = map_line.resolve(case)
     db.upsert_case(case)
     typer.echo(f"  + mapped: hosting country = {case.victim.country or '—'}")
diff --git a/src/psyc/cockpit/static/cockpit.css b/src/psyc/cockpit/static/cockpit.css
index 8cb156b..828479a 100644
--- a/src/psyc/cockpit/static/cockpit.css
+++ b/src/psyc/cockpit/static/cockpit.css
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ h1, h2, h3,
   height: 48px; width: 160px;
   object-fit: cover; object-position: center;
   display: block;
-  filter: drop-shadow(0 0 3px var(--accent-glow)) drop-shadow(0 0 11px var(--accent-glow));
+  filter: drop-shadow(0 0 5px var(--accent)) drop-shadow(0 0 15px rgba(30, 200, 255, 0.5));
 }
 .brand-sub {
   color: var(--muted); font-size: 11px;
diff --git a/src/psyc/lines/proof.py b/src/psyc/lines/proof.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ff5afd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/psyc/lines/proof.py
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+"""Proofline — validates indicators, measures freshness, scores confidence.
+
+Workers: IOCChecker (are the observables well-formed?), FreshnessChecker (how
+old is the signal?), ConfidenceScorer (Admiralty source-reliability + an
+overall confidence level). Fills case.confidence; runs after Scoutline.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+
+from psyc import log
+from psyc.models import Case
+
+
+_log = log.get(__name__)
+
+_CVE_RE = re.compile(r"^CVE-\d{4}-\d{4,}$", re.IGNORECASE)
+_IPV4_RE = re.compile(r"^\d{1,3}(\.\d{1,3}){3}$")
+_DOMAIN_RE = re.compile(r"^[a-z0-9-]+(\.[a-z0-9-]+)+$", re.IGNORECASE)
+_SHA_RE = re.compile(r"^[a-fA-F0-9]{32,64}$")
+
+# feed -> (Admiralty source reliability A-F, information credibility 1-6)
+_FEED_RELIABILITY = {
+    "cisa-kev": ("A", "1"),  # government catalog, confirmed exploited
+    "urlhaus": ("B", "2"),   # established CTI source, confirmed malware
+    "feodo": ("B", "2"),     # established CTI source, confirmed C2
+}
+
+
+def prove(case: Case) -> Case:
+    _check_iocs(case)
+    _check_freshness(case)
+    _score_confidence(case)
+    _log.info(
+        "proof.scored",
+        case_id=case.case_id,
+        level=case.confidence.level,
+        reliability=case.confidence.source_reliability,
+        freshness=case.confidence.freshness,
+        iocs_valid=case.confidence.iocs_valid,
+    )
+    return case
+
+
+def _ipv4_ok(value: str) -> bool:
+    if not _IPV4_RE.match(value):
+        return False
+    return all(0 <= int(part) <= 255 for part in value.split("."))
+
+
+def _check_iocs(case: Case) -> None:
+    obs = case.observables
+    valid = True
+    for ip in obs.ips:
+        if not _ipv4_ok(ip):
+            valid = False
+    for cve in obs.cves:
+        if not _CVE_RE.match(cve):
+            valid = False
+    for h in obs.hashes:
+        if not _SHA_RE.match(h):
+            valid = False
+    for d in obs.domains:
+        # an IP used as a host is a valid observable even though it is not a domain
+        if not (_DOMAIN_RE.match(d) or _ipv4_ok(d)):
+            valid = False
+    case.confidence.iocs_valid = valid
+
+
+def _check_freshness(case: Case) -> None:
+    age_days = (datetime.now(timezone.utc) - case.observed_at).days
+    if age_days <= 2:
+        case.confidence.freshness = "new"
+    elif age_days <= 14:
+        case.confidence.freshness = "recent"
+    elif age_days <= 90:
+        case.confidence.freshness = "stale"
+    else:
+        case.confidence.freshness = "resurfaced"
+
+
+def _score_confidence(case: Case) -> None:
+    feed = case.source_metadata.get("feed", "")
+    reliability, credibility = _FEED_RELIABILITY.get(feed, ("C", "3"))
+    case.confidence.source_reliability = reliability
+    case.confidence.information_credibility = credibility
+
+    # level: start from source reliability, then dock for staleness / bad IOCs
+    level = "high" if reliability == "A" else "medium"
+    if case.confidence.freshness in ("stale", "resurfaced"):
+        level = "medium" if level == "high" else "low"
+    if not case.confidence.iocs_valid:
+        level = "low"
+    case.confidence.level = level
diff --git a/src/psyc/models.py b/src/psyc/models.py
index 748b070..f49ddca 100644
--- a/src/psyc/models.py
+++ b/src/psyc/models.py
@@ -55,9 +55,11 @@ class Classification(BaseModel):
 
 
 class Confidence(BaseModel):
-    level: str = "low"
-    source_reliability: str = "unknown"
-    information_credibility: str = "unknown"
+    level: str = "low"  # low | medium | high
+    source_reliability: str = "unknown"  # Admiralty A-F
+    information_credibility: str = "unknown"  # Admiralty 1-6
+    freshness: str = "unknown"  # new | recent | stale | resurfaced
+    iocs_valid: bool = True
 
 
 class Victim(BaseModel):