diff --git a/.DS_Store b/.DS_Store
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a84cbf7
Binary files /dev/null and b/.DS_Store differ
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 6874f32..4d1ff75 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ go.work.sum
 
 # Compiled binaries and test configuration
 narratio
+local-test
 pipeline.yml
 
 # ---> VisualStudioCode
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index aaea0db..07024e3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ go run ./cmd/narratio plan --config examples/pipeline.minimal.yml --session exam
 
 The current `run` command executes `prepare` + real `transcribe` + placeholder downstream stages and records progress in `manifest.json`.
 
-Note: default CLI wiring currently injects `whisperx.NoopClient` in the runner to avoid implicit network dependency; the real HTTP adapter is implemented under `internal/adapters/whisperx/http.go` and is used via explicit env wiring/tests.
+Default CLI wiring builds and uses the real WhisperX HTTP adapter from `pipeline.whisperx` when `whisperx.transcribe_url` is configured.
 
 ```bash
 go run ./cmd/narratio run --config examples/pipeline.minimal.yml --session examples/session.minimal.yml
diff --git a/internal/app/commands_test.go b/internal/app/commands_test.go
index b36c8d4..846c9ea 100644
--- a/internal/app/commands_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/commands_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package app
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
@@ -14,7 +16,13 @@ import (
 
 func TestExecuteValidCommands(t *testing.T) {
 	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
-	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"source":"commands-test","segments":[{"speaker":"alice"}]}`))
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot, srv.URL)
 	manifestPath := writeManifestPathForExecute(t)
 
 	cases := []struct {
@@ -83,7 +91,7 @@ func TestExecuteMissingRequiredFlags(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestExecuteRunStageUnknownFails(t *testing.T) {
 	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
-	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot, "https://example.com/transcribe")
 
 	var stdout bytes.Buffer
 	var stderr bytes.Buffer
@@ -97,6 +105,50 @@ func TestExecuteRunStageUnknownFails(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestExecuteRunStageTranscribeUsesConfiguredWhisperXServer(t *testing.T) {
+	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
+	var serverCalls int
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		serverCalls++
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"source":"run-stage-test","segments":[{"speaker":"alice"}]}`))
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot, srv.URL)
+
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+
+	code := Execute([]string{"run-stage", "--config", pipelinePath, "--session", sessionPath, "prepare"}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("prepare exit code = %d, want 0; stderr=%q", code, stderr.String())
+	}
+	stdout.Reset()
+	stderr.Reset()
+
+	code = Execute([]string{"run-stage", "--config", pipelinePath, "--session", sessionPath, "--force", "transcribe"}, &stdout, &stderr)
+	if code != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("transcribe exit code = %d, want 0; stderr=%q", code, stderr.String())
+	}
+	if serverCalls == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("expected whisperx server to be called at least once")
+	}
+
+	outPath := filepath.Join(workspaceRoot, "work", "2026-05-03", "transcripts", "raw", "alice.json")
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(outPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReadFile(%q): %v", outPath, err)
+	}
+	got := strings.TrimSpace(string(data))
+	if got == `{"schema":"speaker_transcript.v1","segments":[]}` {
+		t.Fatalf("got noop transcript output: %q", got)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(got, `"source":"run-stage-test"`) {
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want run-stage server json", got)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestExecuteInvalidCommand(t *testing.T) {
 	var stdout bytes.Buffer
 	var stderr bytes.Buffer
@@ -133,19 +185,27 @@ func TestExecuteMissingCommand(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func writeValidConfigFiles(t *testing.T, workspaceRoot string) (string, string) {
+func writeValidConfigFiles(t *testing.T, workspaceRoot string, transcribeURL ...string) (string, string) {
 	t.Helper()
 
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	pipelinePath := filepath.Join(dir, "pipeline.yml")
 	sessionPath := filepath.Join(dir, "session.yml")
+	url := "https://example.com/transcribe"
+	if len(transcribeURL) > 0 && strings.TrimSpace(transcribeURL[0]) != "" {
+		url = transcribeURL[0]
+	}
 
 	pipelineYAML := `workspace:
   root: ` + workspaceRoot + `
 storage:
   backend: s3
 whisperx:
-  transcribe_url: https://transcription.ai.rakestrawhome.com/transcribe
+  transcribe_url: ` + url + `
+  timeout: 2s
+  retries: 0
+  retry_delay: 1ms
+  concurrency: 1
 seriatim:
   timeout: 30s
 audita:
diff --git a/internal/app/resume_run_stage_test.go b/internal/app/resume_run_stage_test.go
index 922614b..6630cf7 100644
--- a/internal/app/resume_run_stage_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/resume_run_stage_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package app
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
@@ -68,7 +70,12 @@ func TestResumeNoRemainingStages(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestResumeForceRerunsSucceeded(t *testing.T) {
 	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
-	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"source":"resume-force-test","segments":[{"speaker":"alice"}]}`))
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot, srv.URL)
 	manifestPath := filepath.Join(workspaceRoot, "work", "2026-05-03", "manifest.json")
 
 	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
diff --git a/internal/app/runner.go b/internal/app/runner.go
index 27d137a..8e114a4 100644
--- a/internal/app/runner.go
+++ b/internal/app/runner.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/analyzer"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/audita"
@@ -51,7 +52,11 @@ func executeStages(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, stages []stage.Stage
 		env.Logger = logging.NewLogger(os.Stderr, slog.LevelInfo)
 	}
 	if env.WhisperX == nil {
-		env.WhisperX = &whisperx.NoopClient{}
+		client, err := buildDefaultWhisperXClient(env.Config)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("initialize whisperx client: %w", err)
+		}
+		env.WhisperX = client
 	}
 	if env.Seriatim == nil {
 		env.Seriatim = &seriatim.NoopRunner{}
@@ -145,6 +150,35 @@ func executeStages(ctx context.Context, cfg *config.Config, stages []stage.Stage
 	}, nil
 }
 
+func buildDefaultWhisperXClient(cfg *config.Config) (whisperx.Client, error) {
+	if cfg == nil || cfg.Pipeline == nil {
+		return &whisperx.NoopClient{}, nil
+	}
+
+	wx := cfg.Pipeline.WhisperX
+	if strings.TrimSpace(wx.TranscribeURL) == "" {
+		// Compatibility fallback for tests or internal call paths that bypass config validation.
+		return &whisperx.NoopClient{}, nil
+	}
+
+	retries := 0
+	if wx.Retries != nil {
+		retries = *wx.Retries
+	}
+
+	client, err := whisperx.NewHTTPClientFromConfigValues(
+		wx.TranscribeURL,
+		wx.Language,
+		wx.Timeout,
+		wx.RetryDelay,
+		retries,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("from pipeline.whisperx: %w", err)
+	}
+	return client, nil
+}
+
 func loadOrCreateManifest(ctx context.Context, store manifest.Store, path, sessionID string) (*manifest.Manifest, error) {
 	exists, err := fileExists(path)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/app/whisperx_wiring_test.go b/internal/app/whisperx_wiring_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4558d19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/app/whisperx_wiring_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+package app
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/adapters/whisperx"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/stage"
+)
+
+func TestExecuteStagesDefaultWiringUsesWhisperXHTTPClient(t *testing.T) {
+	var calls atomic.Int32
+	var gotLanguage string
+	var gotFileBytes int
+
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		calls.Add(1)
+		if r.Method != http.MethodPost {
+			t.Fatalf("method = %s, want POST", r.Method)
+		}
+		if err := r.ParseMultipartForm(8 << 20); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("ParseMultipartForm() error = %v", err)
+		}
+		gotLanguage = r.FormValue("language")
+		file, _, err := r.FormFile("file")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("FormFile(file) error = %v", err)
+		}
+		defer file.Close()
+		data, err := io.ReadAll(file)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("ReadAll(file) error = %v", err)
+		}
+		gotFileBytes = len(data)
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"source":"httptest","segments":[{"speaker":"alice"}]}`))
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	cfg := testConfig(t)
+	setWhisperXConfig(cfg, srv.URL, 0)
+
+	summary, err := executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, transcribePipelineStages(), RunOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if calls.Load() != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("whisperx calls = %d, want 1", calls.Load())
+	}
+	if gotLanguage != "en" {
+		t.Fatalf("language = %q, want en", gotLanguage)
+	}
+	if gotFileBytes == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("audio file payload was empty")
+	}
+
+	outPath := filepath.Join(cfg.Pipeline.Workspace.Root, "work", cfg.Session.SessionID, "transcripts", "raw", "alice.json")
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(outPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReadFile(%q) error = %v", outPath, err)
+	}
+	got := strings.TrimSpace(string(data))
+	if got == `{"schema":"speaker_transcript.v1","segments":[]}` {
+		t.Fatalf("got noop transcript output in default wiring: %q", got)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(got, `"source":"httptest"`) {
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want server response json", got)
+	}
+
+	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
+	m, err := store.Load(context.Background(), summary.ManifestPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Load manifest error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if m.Stages["transcribe"] == nil || m.Stages["transcribe"].Status != manifest.StatusSucceeded {
+		t.Fatalf("transcribe stage = %#v, want succeeded", m.Stages["transcribe"])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestExecuteStagesDefaultWiringWhisperXFailureMarksManifestFailed(t *testing.T) {
+	var calls atomic.Int32
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		calls.Add(1)
+		http.Error(w, "temporary", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	cfg := testConfig(t)
+	setWhisperXConfig(cfg, srv.URL, 1)
+
+	summary, err := executeStages(context.Background(), cfg, transcribePipelineStages(), RunOptions{})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+	if summary != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("summary = %#v, want nil on failure", summary)
+	}
+	if calls.Load() != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("whisperx calls = %d, want 2 (retry + initial)", calls.Load())
+	}
+
+	store := &manifest.LocalStore{}
+	m, loadErr := store.Load(context.Background(), manifestPathFor(cfg))
+	if loadErr != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Load manifest error = %v", loadErr)
+	}
+	if m.Stages["transcribe"] == nil || m.Stages["transcribe"].Status != manifest.StatusFailed {
+		t.Fatalf("transcribe stage = %#v, want failed", m.Stages["transcribe"])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestExecuteStagesExplicitWhisperXInjectionOverridesDefaultWiring(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := testConfig(t)
+	setWhisperXConfig(cfg, "https://127.0.0.1:1/transcribe", 0)
+
+	fake := &whisperx.FakeClient{}
+	_, err := executeStages(
+		context.Background(),
+		cfg,
+		transcribePipelineStages(),
+		RunOptions{Env: &Env{WhisperX: fake}},
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("executeStages() error = %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(fake.Requests) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("fake whisperx requests = %d, want 1", len(fake.Requests))
+	}
+}
+
+func setWhisperXConfig(cfg *config.Config, url string, retries int) {
+	concurrency := 2
+	retryDelay := "1ms"
+	timeout := "2s"
+	cfg.Pipeline.WhisperX = config.WhisperXConfig{
+		TranscribeURL: url,
+		Language:      "en",
+		Timeout:       timeout,
+		Retries:       &retries,
+		RetryDelay:    retryDelay,
+		Concurrency:   &concurrency,
+	}
+}
+
+func transcribePipelineStages() []stage.Stage {
+	all := BuildFullPlan()
+	return []stage.Stage{all[0], all[1]}
+}