diff --git a/docs/config.md b/docs/config.md
index 4884949..1132fa7 100644
--- a/docs/config.md
+++ b/docs/config.md
@@ -47,7 +47,9 @@ the durable copied session input.
 `narratio config validate`, `narratio config show`, and `narratio config
 sources` use the same `--config`, `--campaign`, `--campaign-file`, and
 `--profile` selection rules as pipeline commands, but do not select, discover,
-or load a session. They do not read credential values or create runtime state.
+or load a session. They resolve configured typed credential references as part
+of the ordinary ConfigKit load but expose only their environment-variable names;
+they do not create runtime state.
 `narratio config diff <left-profile> <right-profile>` uses the same pipeline and
 campaign selectors, resolves each named profile with an independent ConfigKit
 load, and does not accept a separate `--profile` flag.
@@ -215,7 +217,10 @@ inputs:
 ## Secrets Handling
 
 - Do not place raw secrets in YAML.
-- Use env var names in config (for example `pipeline.audita.llm_api_key_env`).
+- Credential fields contain environment-variable names, represented internally
+  as ConfigKit typed secret references (for example
+  `pipeline.audita.llm_api_key: AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY`). A configured reference
+  must resolve to a nonempty environment value during load.
 - Every command that loads a pipeline accepts `--secrets-dir <path>`. When the
   flag is omitted, Narratio uses a present `secrets/` directory beside the
   resolved root `pipeline.yml`; an absent conventional directory is ignored.
@@ -283,8 +288,8 @@ Rules:
 | `pipeline.storage.s3.region` | string | No | empty |
 | `pipeline.storage.s3.endpoint` | string | No | empty |
 | `pipeline.storage.s3.force_path_style` | bool | No | `false` |
-| `pipeline.storage.s3.access_key_id_env` | string | No | `OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID` |
-| `pipeline.storage.s3.secret_access_key_env` | string | No | `OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY` |
+| `pipeline.storage.s3.access_key_id` | secret reference | Conditional | unset; must be paired with `secret_access_key` |
+| `pipeline.storage.s3.secret_access_key` | secret reference | Conditional | unset; must be paired with `access_key_id` |
 | `pipeline.spool.root` | string | No | `/var/spool/narratio` |
 | `pipeline.spool.delete_audio_after_publish` | bool | No | `false`; selects the published run's spool-audio target for final cleanup and requires effective `pipeline.publish.enabled=true` and `pipeline.publish.upload_run=true` |
 | `pipeline.cache.root` | string | No | `/var/cache/narratio` |
@@ -312,7 +317,7 @@ Rules:
 | `pipeline.seriatim.env.filler_max_duration` | float | No | unset |
 | `pipeline.audita.binary` | string | No | `audita` |
 | `pipeline.audita.timeout` | duration | No | `3h` |
-| `pipeline.audita.llm_api_key_env` | string | No | empty |
+| `pipeline.audita.llm_api_key` | secret reference | No | unset |
 | `pipeline.audita.modules[]` | list[string] | No | empty |
 | `pipeline.audita.base_url` | string | No | empty |
 | `pipeline.audita.model` | string | No | empty |
diff --git a/docs/integrations/audita.md b/docs/integrations/audita.md
index 978eb6c..3daa320 100644
--- a/docs/integrations/audita.md
+++ b/docs/integrations/audita.md
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ Construction fails for invalid static config values, including:
 
 Run fails for:
 - missing required request paths;
-- missing required credential env var when configured (`llm_api_key_env`);
 - subprocess execution failure;
 - invalid processed transcript JSON (`segments` array required);
 - invalid report JSON when reporting is enabled.
@@ -53,6 +52,9 @@ Failure results still include output/log/config/exit metadata for diagnostics.
 
 ## Deterministic Behavior
 - CLI args are built from runner config + request in a fixed order.
+- A configured typed `llm_api_key` reference is resolved during pipeline load;
+  the captured value is supplied only as the child's `AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY`
+  override and is never re-read from the parent environment.
 - Generated invocation YAML (`audita.generated.v1`) is emitted when requested.
 - Manifest writes are stage-owned; adapter itself is stateless.
 
diff --git a/docs/internal/adapters.md b/docs/internal/adapters.md
index 10a901e..f0b9cdd 100644
--- a/docs/internal/adapters.md
+++ b/docs/internal/adapters.md
@@ -84,8 +84,9 @@ in-memory backend without changing package state.
   Cancellation, deadlines, and
   diagnostic limits use the same terminal disposal path without losing their
   original result classification. Child environments contain only the execution
-  baseline and adapter-specified values; configured credentials are explicit
-  sensitive values. Stdout and stderr are redacted while streaming into separate
+  baseline and adapter-specified values; configured credentials are resolved
+  once by ConfigKit and passed explicitly as sensitive values. Adapters do not
+  re-read their named environment references. Stdout and stderr are redacted while streaming into separate
   8 MiB diagnostic captures; a bounded wait closes a stream retained by a
   departed leader's descendant. Unsupported platforms reject owned command
   execution.
diff --git a/docs/internal/configuration.md b/docs/internal/configuration.md
index 78be729..fcafd8c 100644
--- a/docs/internal/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/internal/configuration.md
@@ -155,8 +155,10 @@ execution, but the digest substitutes their normalized logical values captured
 before root-relative resolution, so relocating an equivalent configuration
 bundle does not change provenance. Because ConfigKit and resolution metadata
 are private, the digest excludes source layout, profile name, and ownership.
-Configuration stores environment variable names rather than resolving raw
-credentials, so raw secret values are neither loaded nor hashed.
+Configuration stores credentials as ConfigKit typed references. A successful
+load resolves their values inside the opaque typed boundary, while this safe
+projection serializes only `EnvName()` identities. Credential-value changes are
+therefore never hashed; reference-name changes remain ordinary provenance.
 `recomputePipelineEffectiveDigest` is the single package-owned refresh point
 for later runtime expansion.
 
diff --git a/docs/internal/stage-polish.md b/docs/internal/stage-polish.md
index b24fcc0..a626373 100644
--- a/docs/internal/stage-polish.md
+++ b/docs/internal/stage-polish.md
@@ -35,8 +35,9 @@ validation model, module set, transcript description, output schema, selected
 external configuration path, and canonical polished-transcript identity. Module
 ordering is normalized because the configured modules form a set. Audita's
 executable, timeouts, concurrency, report and debug behavior, work retention,
-and credential environment name are operational and do not invalidate a
-successful result.
+and resolved credential value are operational and do not invalidate a
+successful result. The public credential reference name may participate in
+configuration provenance but never exposes its resolved value.
 
 Narratio can fingerprint a selected model, module, or configuration identifier,
 but it cannot inspect content that Audita privately resolves behind that stable
diff --git a/docs/operations.md b/docs/operations.md
index 301a732..47526eb 100644
--- a/docs/operations.md
+++ b/docs/operations.md
@@ -566,6 +566,13 @@ invalid existing directories fail the command. ConfigKit follows a symlink used
 as the selected directory, but immediate entries must be regular non-symlink
 files. Existing environment variables—including empty values—always win.
 
+S3 `access_key_id` and `secret_access_key` are an optional pair of typed
+environment references. When both are absent, the AWS SDK retains its default
+credential provider chain. When both are configured, Narratio supplies their
+load-time resolved values through an explicit static provider. Audita's optional
+`llm_api_key` is likewise captured at pipeline load and supplied only through
+the child process's `AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY` override.
+
 External adapter results are individually bounded before Narratio validates or
 materializes them. These per-file limits do not reserve disk space: prevent hard
 disk exhaustion with filesystem, service, container, or volume quotas sized for
diff --git a/docs/roadmap/implementation.md b/docs/roadmap/implementation.md
index aa006f2..b6146e4 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap/implementation.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap/implementation.md
@@ -320,7 +320,11 @@ architecture, and troubleshooting to the new bootstrap/permission contract.
 
 ## Stage 7 — Resolve typed credentials and protect all output boundaries
 
-Status: Pending
+Status: Complete — Migrated S3 and Audita credentials to optional ConfigKit
+typed references, passed resolved values directly to runtime adapters, preserved
+the AWS default provider chain when unconfigured, and verified reference-only
+inspection, provenance, generated configuration, manifest, and diagnostic
+boundaries with focused, full, and race test suites.
 
 Read: ConfigKit “Typed secret references” and rendering contracts;
 `internal/config/config.go`, `defaults.go`, `validate_adapters.go`, the safe
diff --git a/examples/README.md b/examples/README.md
index bfb0c96..8194888 100644
--- a/examples/README.md
+++ b/examples/README.md
@@ -58,5 +58,8 @@ with the sample campaign and a compatible local- or S3-audio session.
   reserves the expected filename and directory shape. Replace it with a real
   FLAC file before running transcription.
 
-The examples contain environment-variable names but no credential values. They
-use fictional campaign content and reserved example domains.
+The examples contain environment-variable names but no credential values. Set
+`OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID`, `OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY`, and `AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY` to
+nonempty synthetic or real values before loading the production-shaped and full
+annotated pipelines. They use fictional campaign content and reserved example
+domains.
diff --git a/examples/pipeline.full.annotated.yml b/examples/pipeline.full.annotated.yml
index 0277061..466ce10 100644
--- a/examples/pipeline.full.annotated.yml
+++ b/examples/pipeline.full.annotated.yml
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ storage:
     endpoint: ""
     force_path_style: false
     # Optional; defaults shown explicitly.
-    access_key_id_env: OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID
-    secret_access_key_env: OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY
+    access_key_id: OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID
+    secret_access_key: OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY
 
 campaigns:
   # Optional; defaults to /usr/local/share/narratio/campaigns.
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ audita:
   # Optional overrides; defaults shown explicitly where applicable.
   binary: audita
   timeout: 3h
-  llm_api_key_env: AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY
+  llm_api_key: AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY
   modules: [glossary, homophones, spoken_word, grammar]
   base_url: ""
   model: ""
diff --git a/examples/pipeline.production.yml b/examples/pipeline.production.yml
index 92ff115..d5e688a 100644
--- a/examples/pipeline.production.yml
+++ b/examples/pipeline.production.yml
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ storage:
     bucket: my-dnd-archive
     root_prefix: dnd
     region: us-east-1
-    access_key_id_env: OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID
-    secret_access_key_env: OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY
+    access_key_id: OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID
+    secret_access_key: OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY
 
 campaigns:
   root: /usr/local/share/narratio/campaigns
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ seriatim:
 audita:
   binary: audita
   timeout: 3h
-  llm_api_key_env: AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY
+  llm_api_key: AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY
   modules: [glossary, homophones, spoken_word, grammar]
   output_schema: audita-v1
   work_dir_retention: auto
diff --git a/internal/adapters/audita/subprocess.go b/internal/adapters/audita/subprocess.go
index e2e7f37..75b83e0 100644
--- a/internal/adapters/audita/subprocess.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/audita/subprocess.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/url"
-	"os"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -24,7 +23,8 @@ const MaxReportOutputBytes int64 = 16 * 1024 * 1024
 type SubprocessRunnerConfig struct {
 	Binary                   string
 	Timeout                  time.Duration
-	LLMAPIKeyEnv             string
+	LLMAPIKey                string
+	LLMAPIKeyReference       string
 	Modules                  []string
 	BaseURL                  string
 	Model                    string
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ type SubprocessRunnerConfig struct {
 type SubprocessRunner struct {
 	binary                   string
 	timeout                  time.Duration
-	llmAPIKeyEnv             string
+	llmAPIKey                string
+	llmAPIKeyReference       string
 	modules                  []string
 	baseURL                  string
 	model                    string
@@ -62,7 +63,8 @@ type SubprocessRunner struct {
 func NewSubprocessRunnerFromConfigValues(
 	binary string,
 	timeout string,
-	llmAPIKeyEnv string,
+	llmAPIKey string,
+	llmAPIKeyReference string,
 	modules []string,
 	baseURL string,
 	model string,
@@ -86,7 +88,8 @@ func NewSubprocessRunnerFromConfigValues(
 	return NewSubprocessRunner(SubprocessRunnerConfig{
 		Binary:                   binary,
 		Timeout:                  parsedTimeout,
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv:             llmAPIKeyEnv,
+		LLMAPIKey:                llmAPIKey,
+		LLMAPIKeyReference:       llmAPIKeyReference,
 		Modules:                  modules,
 		BaseURL:                  baseURL,
 		Model:                    model,
@@ -110,6 +113,9 @@ func NewSubprocessRunner(cfg SubprocessRunnerConfig) (*SubprocessRunner, error)
 	if cfg.Timeout <= 0 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("audita timeout must be > 0")
 	}
+	if (cfg.LLMAPIKey == "") != (strings.TrimSpace(cfg.LLMAPIKeyReference) == "") {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("audita credential value and reference must be provided together")
+	}
 	for i, module := range cfg.Modules {
 		if strings.TrimSpace(module) == "" {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("audita module at index %d is empty", i)
@@ -152,7 +158,8 @@ func NewSubprocessRunner(cfg SubprocessRunnerConfig) (*SubprocessRunner, error)
 	return &SubprocessRunner{
 		binary:                   strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Binary),
 		timeout:                  cfg.Timeout,
-		llmAPIKeyEnv:             strings.TrimSpace(cfg.LLMAPIKeyEnv),
+		llmAPIKey:                cfg.LLMAPIKey,
+		llmAPIKeyReference:       strings.TrimSpace(cfg.LLMAPIKeyReference),
 		modules:                  modules,
 		baseURL:                  strings.TrimSpace(cfg.BaseURL),
 		model:                    strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Model),
@@ -195,16 +202,10 @@ func (r *SubprocessRunner) Run(ctx context.Context, req PolishRequest) (PolishRe
 	}
 	args := r.buildArgs(req, reqModules)
 
-	credentialEnvVar := strings.TrimSpace(r.llmAPIKeyEnv)
-	credentialPresent := false
+	credentialPresent := r.llmAPIKeyReference != ""
 	env := map[string]string{}
-	if credentialEnvVar != "" {
-		credential, ok := os.LookupEnv(credentialEnvVar)
-		if !ok || strings.TrimSpace(credential) == "" {
-			return PolishResult{}, fmt.Errorf("audita: required credential environment variable %s is not set", credentialEnvVar)
-		}
-		env["AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY"] = credential
-		credentialPresent = true
+	if credentialPresent {
+		env["AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY"] = r.llmAPIKey
 	}
 
 	if req.GeneratedConfigPath != "" {
@@ -269,7 +270,7 @@ func (r *SubprocessRunner) Run(ctx context.Context, req PolishRequest) (PolishRe
 			"total_llm_concurrency":      r.totalLLMConcurrency,
 			"proposal_llm_concurrency":   r.proposalLLMConcurrency,
 			"validation_llm_concurrency": r.validationLLMConcurrency,
-			"credential_env_var":         r.llmAPIKeyEnv,
+			"credential_env_var":         r.llmAPIKeyReference,
 			"credential_present":         credentialPresent,
 		},
 	}, nil
@@ -299,7 +300,7 @@ func (r *SubprocessRunner) failureResult(req PolishRequest, modules []string, ru
 			"total_llm_concurrency":      r.totalLLMConcurrency,
 			"proposal_llm_concurrency":   r.proposalLLMConcurrency,
 			"validation_llm_concurrency": r.validationLLMConcurrency,
-			"credential_env_var":         r.llmAPIKeyEnv,
+			"credential_env_var":         r.llmAPIKeyReference,
 			"credential_present":         credentialPresent,
 		},
 	}
@@ -375,7 +376,7 @@ func (r *SubprocessRunner) writeInvocationConfig(req PolishRequest, args []strin
 		"output_path":                req.OutputProcessedPath,
 		"report_path":                req.ReportPath,
 		"work_dir":                   req.WorkDir,
-		"credential_env_var":         r.llmAPIKeyEnv,
+		"credential_env_var":         r.llmAPIKeyReference,
 		"credential_present":         credentialPresent,
 	}
 	return writeGeneratedYAML(req.GeneratedConfigPath, payload)
diff --git a/internal/adapters/audita/subprocess_test.go b/internal/adapters/audita/subprocess_test.go
index 3ae8bf9..8c55cc2 100644
--- a/internal/adapters/audita/subprocess_test.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/audita/subprocess_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerSuccessArgsEnvAndValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	runner, err := NewSubprocessRunner(SubprocessRunnerConfig{
 		Binary:                   wrapper,
 		Timeout:                  mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv:             "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
+		LLMAPIKey:                "super-secret",
+		LLMAPIKeyReference:       "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
 		Modules:                  []string{"glossary", "homophones", "glossary"},
 		BaseURL:                  "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
 		Model:                    "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerSuccessArgsEnvAndValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("NewSubprocessRunner() error = %v", err)
 	}
+	t.Setenv("OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE", "changed-after-resolution")
 
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	req := PolishRequest{
@@ -128,24 +130,14 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerSuccessArgsEnvAndValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestSubprocessRunnerMissingConfiguredCredentialFails(t *testing.T) {
-	runner := mustAuditaRunner(t, SubprocessRunnerConfig{
-		Binary:       writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
-		Timeout:      mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv: "MISSING_AUDITA_KEY",
-		Modules:      []string{"glossary"},
-		BaseURL:      "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
-		Model:        "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
-		Report:       false,
+func TestSubprocessRunnerRejectsIncompleteResolvedCredential(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := NewSubprocessRunner(SubprocessRunnerConfig{
+		Binary:             writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
+		Timeout:            mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
+		LLMAPIKeyReference: "MISSING_AUDITA_KEY",
 	})
-	req := auditaReqForTest(t, false)
-
-	_, err := runner.Run(context.Background(), req)
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "required credential environment variable MISSING_AUDITA_KEY is not set") {
-		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want missing credential guidance", err.Error())
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "credential value and reference must be provided together") {
+		t.Fatalf("NewSubprocessRunner() error = %v, want credential pair error", err)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -156,13 +148,13 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerUnconfiguredCredentialEnvOmitsCredential(t *testing.T)
 	t.Setenv("AUDITA_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", recordPath)
 
 	runner := mustAuditaRunner(t, SubprocessRunnerConfig{
-		Binary:       writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
-		Timeout:      mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv: "",
-		Modules:      []string{"glossary"},
-		BaseURL:      "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
-		Model:        "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
-		Report:       false,
+		Binary:    writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
+		Timeout:   mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
+		LLMAPIKey: "",
+		Modules:   []string{"glossary"},
+		BaseURL:   "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
+		Model:     "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
+		Report:    false,
 	})
 	req := auditaReqForTest(t, false)
 
@@ -187,13 +179,13 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerOmitsUnspecifiedParentEnvironment(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("AUDITA_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", recordPath)
 
 	runner := mustAuditaRunner(t, SubprocessRunnerConfig{
-		Binary:       writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
-		Timeout:      mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
-		Modules:      []string{"glossary"},
-		BaseURL:      "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
-		Model:        "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
-		Report:       false,
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv: "",
+		Binary:    writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
+		Timeout:   mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
+		Modules:   []string{"glossary"},
+		BaseURL:   "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
+		Model:     "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
+		Report:    false,
+		LLMAPIKey: "",
 	})
 	req := auditaReqForTest(t, false)
 	if _, err := runner.Run(context.Background(), req); err != nil {
@@ -213,12 +205,12 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerOmitsModulesFlagWhenNotConfigured(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("AUDITA_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", recordPath)
 
 	runner := mustAuditaRunner(t, SubprocessRunnerConfig{
-		Binary:       writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
-		Timeout:      mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv: "",
-		BaseURL:      "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
-		Model:        "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
-		Report:       false,
+		Binary:    writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
+		Timeout:   mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
+		LLMAPIKey: "",
+		BaseURL:   "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
+		Model:     "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
+		Report:    false,
 	})
 	req := auditaReqForTest(t, false)
 	if _, err := runner.Run(context.Background(), req); err != nil {
@@ -239,10 +231,10 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerOmitsBaseURLAndModelFlagsWhenNotConfigured(t *testing.T
 	t.Setenv("AUDITA_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", recordPath)
 
 	runner := mustAuditaRunner(t, SubprocessRunnerConfig{
-		Binary:       writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
-		Timeout:      mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv: "",
-		Report:       false,
+		Binary:    writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
+		Timeout:   mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
+		LLMAPIKey: "",
+		Report:    false,
 	})
 	req := auditaReqForTest(t, false)
 	if _, err := runner.Run(context.Background(), req); err != nil {
@@ -266,13 +258,14 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerSubprocessFailure(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("AUDITA_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "record.json"))
 
 	runner := mustAuditaRunner(t, SubprocessRunnerConfig{
-		Binary:       writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
-		Timeout:      mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv: "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
-		Modules:      []string{"glossary"},
-		BaseURL:      "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
-		Model:        "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
-		Report:       true,
+		Binary:             writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
+		Timeout:            mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
+		LLMAPIKey:          "super-secret",
+		LLMAPIKeyReference: "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
+		Modules:            []string{"glossary"},
+		BaseURL:            "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
+		Model:              "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
+		Report:             true,
 	})
 	req := auditaReqForTest(t, true)
 	_, err := runner.Run(context.Background(), req)
@@ -288,6 +281,9 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerSubprocessFailure(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), req.StdoutLogPath) || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), req.StderrLogPath) {
 		t.Fatalf("error = %q, want stdout/stderr log paths", err.Error())
 	}
+	if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "super-secret") {
+		t.Fatalf("failure diagnostic exposed credential value: %q", err.Error())
+	}
 }
 
 func TestSubprocessRunnerSubprocessFailureAddsStderrDescriptorHint(t *testing.T) {
@@ -297,13 +293,14 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerSubprocessFailureAddsStderrDescriptorHint(t *testing.T)
 	t.Setenv("AUDITA_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "record.json"))
 
 	runner := mustAuditaRunner(t, SubprocessRunnerConfig{
-		Binary:       writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
-		Timeout:      mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv: "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
-		Modules:      []string{"glossary"},
-		BaseURL:      "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
-		Model:        "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
-		Report:       true,
+		Binary:             writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
+		Timeout:            mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
+		LLMAPIKey:          "super-secret",
+		LLMAPIKeyReference: "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
+		Modules:            []string{"glossary"},
+		BaseURL:            "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
+		Model:              "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
+		Report:             true,
 	})
 	req := auditaReqForTest(t, true)
 	_, err := runner.Run(context.Background(), req)
@@ -322,13 +319,14 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerMissingOutputFails(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("AUDITA_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "record.json"))
 
 	runner := mustAuditaRunner(t, SubprocessRunnerConfig{
-		Binary:       writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
-		Timeout:      mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv: "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
-		Modules:      []string{"glossary"},
-		BaseURL:      "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
-		Model:        "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
-		Report:       false,
+		Binary:             writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
+		Timeout:            mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
+		LLMAPIKey:          "super-secret",
+		LLMAPIKeyReference: "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
+		Modules:            []string{"glossary"},
+		BaseURL:            "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
+		Model:              "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
+		Report:             false,
 	})
 	req := auditaReqForTest(t, false)
 	_, err := runner.Run(context.Background(), req)
@@ -347,13 +345,14 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerInvalidOutputJSONFails(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("AUDITA_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "record.json"))
 
 	runner := mustAuditaRunner(t, SubprocessRunnerConfig{
-		Binary:       writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
-		Timeout:      mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv: "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
-		Modules:      []string{"glossary"},
-		BaseURL:      "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
-		Model:        "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
-		Report:       false,
+		Binary:             writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
+		Timeout:            mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
+		LLMAPIKey:          "super-secret",
+		LLMAPIKeyReference: "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
+		Modules:            []string{"glossary"},
+		BaseURL:            "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
+		Model:              "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
+		Report:             false,
 	})
 	req := auditaReqForTest(t, false)
 	_, err := runner.Run(context.Background(), req)
@@ -372,13 +371,14 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerSegmentsMissingFails(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("AUDITA_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "record.json"))
 
 	runner := mustAuditaRunner(t, SubprocessRunnerConfig{
-		Binary:       writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
-		Timeout:      mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv: "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
-		Modules:      []string{"glossary"},
-		BaseURL:      "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
-		Model:        "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
-		Report:       false,
+		Binary:             writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
+		Timeout:            mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
+		LLMAPIKey:          "super-secret",
+		LLMAPIKeyReference: "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
+		Modules:            []string{"glossary"},
+		BaseURL:            "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
+		Model:              "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
+		Report:             false,
 	})
 	req := auditaReqForTest(t, false)
 	_, err := runner.Run(context.Background(), req)
@@ -397,13 +397,14 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerInvalidReportJSONFails(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Setenv("AUDITA_HELPER_RECORD_PATH", filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "record.json"))
 
 	runner := mustAuditaRunner(t, SubprocessRunnerConfig{
-		Binary:       writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
-		Timeout:      mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv: "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
-		Modules:      []string{"glossary"},
-		BaseURL:      "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
-		Model:        "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
-		Report:       true,
+		Binary:             writeAuditaHelperWrapper(t),
+		Timeout:            mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "2s"),
+		LLMAPIKey:          "super-secret",
+		LLMAPIKeyReference: "OPENAI_KEY_SOURCE",
+		Modules:            []string{"glossary"},
+		BaseURL:            "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
+		Model:              "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
+		Report:             true,
 	})
 	req := auditaReqForTest(t, true)
 	_, err := runner.Run(context.Background(), req)
@@ -416,21 +417,22 @@ func TestSubprocessRunnerInvalidReportJSONFails(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSubprocessRunnerConstructorValidation(t *testing.T) {
-	_, err := NewSubprocessRunnerFromConfigValues("", "3h", "AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY", []string{"glossary"}, "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1", "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it", "", "", "", "", nil, nil, "", nil, true)
+	_, err := NewSubprocessRunnerFromConfigValues("", "3h", "synthetic-secret", "AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY", []string{"glossary"}, "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1", "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it", "", "", "", "", nil, nil, "", nil, true)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected binary validation error")
 	}
-	_, err = NewSubprocessRunnerFromConfigValues("audita", "bad", "AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY", []string{"glossary"}, "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1", "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it", "", "", "", "", nil, nil, "", nil, true)
+	_, err = NewSubprocessRunnerFromConfigValues("audita", "bad", "synthetic-secret", "AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY", []string{"glossary"}, "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1", "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it", "", "", "", "", nil, nil, "", nil, true)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected timeout parse error")
 	}
 	_, err = NewSubprocessRunner(SubprocessRunnerConfig{
-		Binary:       "audita",
-		Timeout:      mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "1s"),
-		LLMAPIKeyEnv: "AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY",
-		Modules:      []string{"glossary"},
-		BaseURL:      "://",
-		Model:        "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
+		Binary:             "audita",
+		Timeout:            mustParseAuditaDuration(t, "1s"),
+		LLMAPIKey:          "synthetic-secret",
+		LLMAPIKeyReference: "AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY",
+		Modules:            []string{"glossary"},
+		BaseURL:            "://",
+		Model:              "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
 	})
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected base url validation error")
diff --git a/internal/adapters/storage/s3_backend.go b/internal/adapters/storage/s3_backend.go
index 5a102d9..0941fd3 100644
--- a/internal/adapters/storage/s3_backend.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/storage/s3_backend.go
@@ -37,8 +37,12 @@ type s3ClientOptions struct {
 	Region         string
 	Endpoint       string
 	ForcePathStyle bool
-	AccessKeyID    string
-	SecretKey      string
+	Credentials    *s3StaticCredentials
+}
+
+type s3StaticCredentials struct {
+	AccessKeyID     string
+	SecretAccessKey string
 }
 
 var newS3Client = func(ctx context.Context, opts s3ClientOptions) (s3API, error) {
@@ -46,11 +50,11 @@ var newS3Client = func(ctx context.Context, opts s3ClientOptions) (s3API, error)
 	if strings.TrimSpace(opts.Region) != "" {
 		loadOpts = append(loadOpts, awsconfig.WithRegion(strings.TrimSpace(opts.Region)))
 	}
-	if strings.TrimSpace(opts.AccessKeyID) != "" && strings.TrimSpace(opts.SecretKey) != "" {
+	if opts.Credentials != nil {
 		loadOpts = append(loadOpts, awsconfig.WithCredentialsProvider(
 			credentials.NewStaticCredentialsProvider(
-				strings.TrimSpace(opts.AccessKeyID),
-				strings.TrimSpace(opts.SecretKey),
+				opts.Credentials.AccessKeyID,
+				opts.Credentials.SecretAccessKey,
 				"",
 			),
 		))
@@ -75,14 +79,24 @@ func NewS3BackendFromConfig(ctx context.Context, cfg config.StorageS3Config) (*S
 	if bucket == "" {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("storage.s3.bucket is required")
 	}
+	if (cfg.AccessKeyID == nil) != (cfg.SecretAccessKey == nil) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("storage.s3 access key ID and secret access key references must be configured together")
+	}
+	if cfg.AccessKeyID != nil && (!cfg.AccessKeyID.IsResolved() || !cfg.SecretAccessKey.IsResolved()) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("storage.s3 configured credential references must be resolved")
+	}
 
-	client, err := newS3Client(ctx, s3ClientOptions{
+	clientOptions := s3ClientOptions{
 		Region:         cfg.Region,
 		Endpoint:       cfg.Endpoint,
 		ForcePathStyle: cfg.ForcePathStyle,
-		AccessKeyID:    s3CredentialFromEnv(orDefaultEnvName(cfg.AccessKeyIDEnv, config.DefaultS3AccessKeyIDEnv)),
-		SecretKey:      s3CredentialFromEnv(orDefaultEnvName(cfg.SecretKeyEnv, config.DefaultS3SecretAccessKeyEnv)),
-	})
+	}
+	if cfg.AccessKeyID != nil && cfg.SecretAccessKey != nil {
+		clientOptions.Credentials = &s3StaticCredentials{
+			AccessKeyID: cfg.AccessKeyID.Value(), SecretAccessKey: cfg.SecretAccessKey.Value(),
+		}
+	}
+	client, err := newS3Client(ctx, clientOptions)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("build s3 client: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -93,26 +107,6 @@ func NewS3BackendFromConfig(ctx context.Context, cfg config.StorageS3Config) (*S
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func s3CredentialFromEnv(envVarName string) string {
-	name := strings.TrimSpace(envVarName)
-	if name == "" {
-		return ""
-	}
-	value, ok := os.LookupEnv(name)
-	if !ok {
-		return ""
-	}
-	return strings.TrimSpace(value)
-}
-
-func orDefaultEnvName(name, fallback string) string {
-	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(name)
-	if trimmed == "" {
-		return fallback
-	}
-	return trimmed
-}
-
 // List returns objects under prefix.
 func (b *S3Backend) List(ctx context.Context, prefix string) ([]ObjectInfo, error) {
 	normalizedPrefix := normalizeObjectKey(prefix)
diff --git a/internal/adapters/storage/s3_backend_test.go b/internal/adapters/storage/s3_backend_test.go
index 76b511d..2b48b52 100644
--- a/internal/adapters/storage/s3_backend_test.go
+++ b/internal/adapters/storage/s3_backend_test.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3/types"
 	"github.com/aws/smithy-go"
 
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
 )
 
@@ -319,8 +320,10 @@ func TestS3BackendDeleteHonorsCancellation(t *testing.T) {
 func TestNewS3BackendFromConfigUsesClientOptions(t *testing.T) {
 	original := newS3Client
 	t.Cleanup(func() { newS3Client = original })
-	t.Setenv("OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID", "id-123")
-	t.Setenv("OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY", "secret-abc")
+	accessKey := resolvedTestSecret(t, "NARRATIO_S3_TEST_ACCESS", "id-123")
+	secretKey := resolvedTestSecret(t, "NARRATIO_S3_TEST_SECRET", "secret-abc")
+	t.Setenv("NARRATIO_S3_TEST_ACCESS", "changed-id")
+	t.Setenv("NARRATIO_S3_TEST_SECRET", "changed-secret")
 
 	var got s3ClientOptions
 	newS3Client = func(_ context.Context, opts s3ClientOptions) (s3API, error) {
@@ -329,10 +332,12 @@ func TestNewS3BackendFromConfigUsesClientOptions(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	backend, err := NewS3BackendFromConfig(context.Background(), config.StorageS3Config{
-		Bucket:         "my-archive",
-		Region:         "us-east-1",
-		Endpoint:       "http://localhost:9000",
-		ForcePathStyle: true,
+		Bucket:          "my-archive",
+		Region:          "us-east-1",
+		Endpoint:        "http://localhost:9000",
+		ForcePathStyle:  true,
+		AccessKeyID:     accessKey,
+		SecretAccessKey: secretKey,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("NewS3BackendFromConfig() error = %v", err)
@@ -343,7 +348,7 @@ func TestNewS3BackendFromConfigUsesClientOptions(t *testing.T) {
 	if got.Region != "us-east-1" || got.Endpoint != "http://localhost:9000" || !got.ForcePathStyle {
 		t.Fatalf("client options = %#v, want region/endpoint/path-style values", got)
 	}
-	if got.AccessKeyID != "id-123" || got.SecretKey != "secret-abc" {
+	if got.Credentials == nil || got.Credentials.AccessKeyID != "id-123" || got.Credentials.SecretAccessKey != "secret-abc" {
 		t.Fatalf("client options credentials = %#v, want env-resolved static credentials", got)
 	}
 }
@@ -355,7 +360,21 @@ func TestNewS3BackendFromConfigRequiresBucket(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestNewS3BackendFromConfigFallsBackWhenCredentialEnvMissing(t *testing.T) {
+func TestNewS3BackendFromConfigRejectsIncompleteOrUnresolvedCredentials(t *testing.T) {
+	unresolved := configkit.SecretEnv("NARRATIO_UNRESOLVED_S3_KEY")
+	for name, cfg := range map[string]config.StorageS3Config{
+		"partial":    {Bucket: "my-archive", AccessKeyID: &unresolved},
+		"unresolved": {Bucket: "my-archive", AccessKeyID: &unresolved, SecretAccessKey: &unresolved},
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if _, err := NewS3BackendFromConfig(context.Background(), cfg); err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("NewS3BackendFromConfig() succeeded, want credential error")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewS3BackendFromConfigUsesDefaultProviderWithoutCredentialReferences(t *testing.T) {
 	original := newS3Client
 	t.Cleanup(func() { newS3Client = original })
 
@@ -366,19 +385,30 @@ func TestNewS3BackendFromConfigFallsBackWhenCredentialEnvMissing(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	_, err := NewS3BackendFromConfig(context.Background(), config.StorageS3Config{
-		Bucket:         "my-archive",
-		Region:         "us-east-1",
-		AccessKeyIDEnv: "MISSING_ACCESS_KEY_ID",
-		SecretKeyEnv:   "MISSING_SECRET_KEY",
+		Bucket: "my-archive",
+		Region: "us-east-1",
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("NewS3BackendFromConfig() error = %v", err)
 	}
-	if got.AccessKeyID != "" || got.SecretKey != "" {
-		t.Fatalf("client options credentials = %#v, want empty fallback values", got)
+	if got.Credentials != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("client options credentials = %#v, want default provider chain", got.Credentials)
 	}
 }
 
+func resolvedTestSecret(t *testing.T, name, value string) *configkit.Secret {
+	t.Helper()
+	t.Setenv(name, value)
+	type document struct {
+		Secret *configkit.Secret `yaml:"secret"`
+	}
+	result, err := configkit.Load(configkit.Bytes("test.yml", []byte("secret: "+name+"\n")), configkit.Options[document]{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolve test secret: %v", err)
+	}
+	return result.Config.Secret
+}
+
 func strPtr(v string) *string { return &v }
 func int64Ptr(v int64) *int64 { return &v }
 func boolPtr(v bool) *bool    { return &v }
diff --git a/internal/app/commands_test.go b/internal/app/commands_test.go
index 51dc05b..c49ff2f 100644
--- a/internal/app/commands_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/commands_test.go
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ seriatim:
   binary: ` + seriatimBinary + `
 audita:
   binary: ` + auditaBinary + `
-  llm_api_key_env: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
+  llm_api_key: OPENROUTER_API_KEY
 notification:
   mode: noop
 `
@@ -262,6 +262,28 @@ inputs:
 	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "stage=polish executed=1 skipped=0") {
 		t.Fatalf("stdout = %q, want polish execution", stdout.String())
 	}
+	foundReference := false
+	if err := filepath.WalkDir(workRoot, func(path string, entry os.DirEntry, walkErr error) error {
+		if walkErr != nil || entry.IsDir() {
+			return walkErr
+		}
+		data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if bytes.Contains(data, []byte("from-secret-file")) {
+			t.Fatalf("workspace output %q exposed credential value", path)
+		}
+		if bytes.Contains(data, []byte("OPENROUTER_API_KEY")) {
+			foundReference = true
+		}
+		return nil
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("inspect polish outputs: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !foundReference {
+		t.Fatal("polish outputs omitted safe credential reference")
+	}
 }
 
 func TestExecuteRunFailsWhenExplicitSecretsDirMissing(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/app/config_commands_test.go b/internal/app/config_commands_test.go
index aa2850b..cd8bf83 100644
--- a/internal/app/config_commands_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/config_commands_test.go
@@ -299,6 +299,62 @@ func TestConfigDiffBootstrapsSecretsOnceForBothProfiles(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestConfigInspectionOutputsNeverExposeResolvedCredentialValues(t *testing.T) {
+	const firstCanary = "inspection-credential-canary-one"
+	const secondCanary = "inspection-credential-canary-two"
+	for name, value := range map[string]string{
+		"NARRATIO_INSPECT_ACCESS":  firstCanary,
+		"NARRATIO_INSPECT_SECRET":  firstCanary,
+		"NARRATIO_INSPECT_LLM_ONE": firstCanary,
+		"NARRATIO_INSPECT_LLM_TWO": secondCanary,
+	} {
+		t.Setenv(name, value)
+	}
+	workspaceRoot := t.TempDir()
+	pipelinePath, _, _ := writeValidConfigFiles(t, workspaceRoot)
+	pipelineData, err := os.ReadFile(pipelinePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	pipelineYAML := strings.Replace(string(pipelineData), "    bucket: test-bucket\n", `    bucket: test-bucket
+    access_key_id: NARRATIO_INSPECT_ACCESS
+    secret_access_key: NARRATIO_INSPECT_SECRET
+`, 1)
+	if err := os.WriteFile(pipelinePath, []byte(pipelineYAML), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	writeInspectionProfiles(t, pipelinePath,
+		"audita:\n  model: production\n  llm_api_key: NARRATIO_INSPECT_LLM_ONE\n",
+		"audita:\n  model: testing\n  llm_api_key: NARRATIO_INSPECT_LLM_TWO\n",
+	)
+
+	var show bytes.Buffer
+	if err := ConfigShow(context.Background(), []string{"--config", pipelinePath, "--profile", "production"}, &show); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("config show: %v", err)
+	}
+	var sources bytes.Buffer
+	if err := ConfigSources(context.Background(), []string{"--config", pipelinePath, "--profile", "production"}, &sources); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("config sources: %v", err)
+	}
+	var diff bytes.Buffer
+	if err := ConfigDiff(context.Background(), []string{"production", "testing", "--config", pipelinePath}, &diff); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("config diff: %v", err)
+	}
+	for label, output := range map[string]string{"show": show.String(), "sources": sources.String(), "diff": diff.String()} {
+		if strings.Contains(output, firstCanary) || strings.Contains(output, secondCanary) {
+			t.Fatalf("%s output exposed credential value: %q", label, output)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, reference := range []string{"NARRATIO_INSPECT_ACCESS", "NARRATIO_INSPECT_SECRET", "NARRATIO_INSPECT_LLM_ONE"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(show.String(), reference) {
+			t.Fatalf("show omitted safe credential reference %q: %q", reference, show.String())
+		}
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(diff.String(), "NARRATIO_INSPECT_LLM_ONE") || !strings.Contains(diff.String(), "NARRATIO_INSPECT_LLM_TWO") {
+		t.Fatalf("diff omitted safe credential references: %q", diff.String())
+	}
+}
+
 func TestConfigCommandsInspectMaintainedSplitBundleWithoutRuntimeState(t *testing.T) {
 	examplesDir := filepath.Join("..", "..", "examples")
 	pipelinePath := filepath.Join(examplesDir, "production-testing", "pipeline.yml")
diff --git a/internal/app/object_store_test.go b/internal/app/object_store_test.go
index eb807d0..0343be5 100644
--- a/internal/app/object_store_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/object_store_test.go
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ func commandObjectStoreTestConfig() *config.Config {
 			Storage: config.StorageConfig{
 				Backend: "s3",
 				S3: &config.StorageS3Config{
-					Bucket:         "test-bucket",
-					AccessKeyIDEnv: "NARRATIO_TEST_COMMAND_STORE_KEY_ID",
-					SecretKeyEnv:   "NARRATIO_TEST_COMMAND_STORE_SECRET",
+					Bucket:          "test-bucket",
+					AccessKeyID:     testSecretReference("NARRATIO_TEST_COMMAND_STORE_KEY_ID"),
+					SecretAccessKey: testSecretReference("NARRATIO_TEST_COMMAND_STORE_SECRET"),
 				},
 			},
 		},
diff --git a/internal/app/remote_session_test.go b/internal/app/remote_session_test.go
index 7628b33..e25bfb9 100644
--- a/internal/app/remote_session_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/remote_session_test.go
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ func addSecretsToPipelineConfig(t *testing.T, pipelinePath, secretsDir, accessKe
 	pipelineYAML := strings.Replace(
 		string(pipelineData),
 		"storage:\n  backend: s3\n  s3:\n    bucket: test-bucket\n",
-		"storage:\n  backend: s3\n  s3:\n    bucket: test-bucket\n    access_key_id_env: "+accessKeyEnv+"\n    secret_access_key_env: "+secretKeyEnv+"\n",
+		"storage:\n  backend: s3\n  s3:\n    bucket: test-bucket\n    access_key_id: "+accessKeyEnv+"\n    secret_access_key: "+secretKeyEnv+"\n",
 		1,
 	)
 	if err := os.WriteFile(pipelinePath, []byte(pipelineYAML), 0o644); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/app/runner.go b/internal/app/runner.go
index 7af8d11..58fb041 100644
--- a/internal/app/runner.go
+++ b/internal/app/runner.go
@@ -211,11 +211,18 @@ func buildDefaultAuditaRunner(cfg *config.Config) (audita.Runner, error) {
 	if a.Report != nil {
 		report = *a.Report
 	}
+	llmAPIKey := ""
+	llmAPIKeyReference := ""
+	if a.LLMAPIKey != nil {
+		llmAPIKey = a.LLMAPIKey.Value()
+		llmAPIKeyReference = a.LLMAPIKey.EnvName()
+	}
 
 	runner, err := audita.NewSubprocessRunnerFromConfigValues(
 		a.Binary,
 		a.Timeout,
-		a.LLMAPIKeyEnv,
+		llmAPIKey,
+		llmAPIKeyReference,
 		append([]string(nil), a.Modules...),
 		a.BaseURL,
 		a.Model,
diff --git a/internal/app/semantic_resume_test.go b/internal/app/semantic_resume_test.go
index b1895aa..352d118 100644
--- a/internal/app/semantic_resume_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/semantic_resume_test.go
@@ -471,8 +471,8 @@ func TestDeliverySemanticChangesInvalidateOnlyTheirFixedDependents(t *testing.T)
 			cfg.Pipeline.Publish.Outputs[0].Dest = "published/alternate.json"
 		}, wantRuns: [2]int{1, 1}},
 		{name: "publish credentials", mutate: func(cfg *config.Config) {
-			cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv = "OTHER_ACCESS_KEY"
-			cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretKeyEnv = "OTHER_SECRET_KEY"
+			cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyID = testSecretReference("OTHER_ACCESS_KEY")
+			cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretAccessKey = testSecretReference("OTHER_SECRET_KEY")
 		}, wantRuns: [2]int{0, 0}},
 		{name: "notify mode", mutate: func(cfg *config.Config) {
 			cfg.Pipeline.Notification.Mode = "webhook"
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ func configureDeliverySemanticConfig(cfg *config.Config) {
 		Backend: config.StorageBackendLocal,
 		S3: &config.StorageS3Config{
 			Bucket: "campaign", RootPrefix: "narratio", Region: "us-east-1",
-			Endpoint: "https://objects.example", AccessKeyIDEnv: "ACCESS_KEY", SecretKeyEnv: "SECRET_KEY",
+			Endpoint: "https://objects.example", AccessKeyID: testSecretReference("ACCESS_KEY"), SecretAccessKey: testSecretReference("SECRET_KEY"),
 		},
 	}
 	cfg.Pipeline.Notification.Mode = config.DefaultNotificationMode
diff --git a/internal/app/test_environment_test.go b/internal/app/test_environment_test.go
index d735f7c..01c6ee3 100644
--- a/internal/app/test_environment_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/test_environment_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
+
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
 )
 
 // restoreEnvAfterTest clears names for a test and restores both their prior
@@ -31,6 +33,11 @@ func restoreEnvAfterTest(t *testing.T, names ...string) {
 	})
 }
 
+func testSecretReference(name string) *configkit.Secret {
+	reference := configkit.SecretEnv(name)
+	return &reference
+}
+
 func mustWriteSecretFile(t *testing.T, path, value string) {
 	t.Helper()
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(path), 0o755); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 34b7208..6dae163 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package config
 
+import configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+
 // Config is the resolved combined configuration from pipeline.yml,
 // campaign.yml, and session.yml.
 type Config struct {
@@ -98,13 +100,13 @@ const (
 
 // StorageS3Config configures S3 storage coordinates.
 type StorageS3Config struct {
-	Bucket         string `yaml:"bucket" json:"bucket"`
-	RootPrefix     string `yaml:"root_prefix" json:"root_prefix"`
-	Region         string `yaml:"region" json:"region"`
-	Endpoint       string `yaml:"endpoint" json:"endpoint"`
-	ForcePathStyle bool   `yaml:"force_path_style" json:"force_path_style"`
-	AccessKeyIDEnv string `yaml:"access_key_id_env" json:"access_key_id_env"`
-	SecretKeyEnv   string `yaml:"secret_access_key_env" json:"secret_access_key_env"`
+	Bucket          string            `yaml:"bucket" json:"bucket"`
+	RootPrefix      string            `yaml:"root_prefix" json:"root_prefix"`
+	Region          string            `yaml:"region" json:"region"`
+	Endpoint        string            `yaml:"endpoint" json:"endpoint"`
+	ForcePathStyle  bool              `yaml:"force_path_style" json:"force_path_style"`
+	AccessKeyID     *configkit.Secret `yaml:"access_key_id,omitempty" json:"access_key_id,omitempty"`
+	SecretAccessKey *configkit.Secret `yaml:"secret_access_key,omitempty" json:"secret_access_key,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // SpoolConfig configures local spool storage for staged data.
@@ -163,21 +165,21 @@ type SeriatimEnvConfig struct {
 
 // AuditaConfig configures audita adapter settings.
 type AuditaConfig struct {
-	Binary                   string   `yaml:"binary" json:"binary"`
-	Timeout                  string   `yaml:"timeout" json:"timeout"`
-	LLMAPIKeyEnv             string   `yaml:"llm_api_key_env" json:"llm_api_key_env"`
-	Modules                  []string `yaml:"modules" json:"modules"`
-	BaseURL                  string   `yaml:"base_url" json:"base_url"`
-	Model                    string   `yaml:"model" json:"model"`
-	TotalLLMConcurrency      *int     `yaml:"total_llm_concurrency" json:"total_llm_concurrency"`
-	ProposalLLMConcurrency   *int     `yaml:"proposal_llm_concurrency" json:"proposal_llm_concurrency"`
-	ValidationModel          string   `yaml:"validation_model" json:"validation_model"`
-	ValidationLLMConcurrency *int     `yaml:"validation_llm_concurrency" json:"validation_llm_concurrency"`
-	TranscriptDescription    string   `yaml:"transcript_description" json:"transcript_description"`
-	ConfigPath               string   `yaml:"config_path" json:"config_path"`
-	OutputSchema             string   `yaml:"output_schema" json:"output_schema"`
-	WorkDirRetention         string   `yaml:"work_dir_retention" json:"work_dir_retention"`
-	Report                   *bool    `yaml:"report" json:"report"`
+	Binary                   string            `yaml:"binary" json:"binary"`
+	Timeout                  string            `yaml:"timeout" json:"timeout"`
+	LLMAPIKey                *configkit.Secret `yaml:"llm_api_key,omitempty" json:"llm_api_key,omitempty"`
+	Modules                  []string          `yaml:"modules" json:"modules"`
+	BaseURL                  string            `yaml:"base_url" json:"base_url"`
+	Model                    string            `yaml:"model" json:"model"`
+	TotalLLMConcurrency      *int              `yaml:"total_llm_concurrency" json:"total_llm_concurrency"`
+	ProposalLLMConcurrency   *int              `yaml:"proposal_llm_concurrency" json:"proposal_llm_concurrency"`
+	ValidationModel          string            `yaml:"validation_model" json:"validation_model"`
+	ValidationLLMConcurrency *int              `yaml:"validation_llm_concurrency" json:"validation_llm_concurrency"`
+	TranscriptDescription    string            `yaml:"transcript_description" json:"transcript_description"`
+	ConfigPath               string            `yaml:"config_path" json:"config_path"`
+	OutputSchema             string            `yaml:"output_schema" json:"output_schema"`
+	WorkDirRetention         string            `yaml:"work_dir_retention" json:"work_dir_retention"`
+	Report                   *bool             `yaml:"report" json:"report"`
 }
 
 // NormalizeConfig configures normalize-stage transcript schema/output behavior.
diff --git a/internal/config/credential_projection.go b/internal/config/credential_projection.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85fad96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/config/credential_projection.go
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+package config
+
+import configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
+
+// MarshalYAML exposes only public credential reference names. Resolved values
+// remain available solely through ConfigKit's explicit trusted accessor.
+func (cfg StorageS3Config) MarshalYAML() (any, error) {
+	type safeStorageS3 struct {
+		Bucket          string  `yaml:"bucket"`
+		RootPrefix      string  `yaml:"root_prefix"`
+		Region          string  `yaml:"region"`
+		Endpoint        string  `yaml:"endpoint"`
+		ForcePathStyle  bool    `yaml:"force_path_style"`
+		AccessKeyID     *string `yaml:"access_key_id,omitempty"`
+		SecretAccessKey *string `yaml:"secret_access_key,omitempty"`
+	}
+	return safeStorageS3{
+		Bucket: cfg.Bucket, RootPrefix: cfg.RootPrefix, Region: cfg.Region,
+		Endpoint: cfg.Endpoint, ForcePathStyle: cfg.ForcePathStyle,
+		AccessKeyID: secretReferenceName(cfg.AccessKeyID), SecretAccessKey: secretReferenceName(cfg.SecretAccessKey),
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// MarshalYAML exposes only the public Audita credential reference name.
+func (cfg AuditaConfig) MarshalYAML() (any, error) {
+	type safeAudita struct {
+		Binary                   string   `yaml:"binary"`
+		Timeout                  string   `yaml:"timeout"`
+		LLMAPIKey                *string  `yaml:"llm_api_key,omitempty"`
+		Modules                  []string `yaml:"modules"`
+		BaseURL                  string   `yaml:"base_url"`
+		Model                    string   `yaml:"model"`
+		TotalLLMConcurrency      *int     `yaml:"total_llm_concurrency"`
+		ProposalLLMConcurrency   *int     `yaml:"proposal_llm_concurrency"`
+		ValidationModel          string   `yaml:"validation_model"`
+		ValidationLLMConcurrency *int     `yaml:"validation_llm_concurrency"`
+		TranscriptDescription    string   `yaml:"transcript_description"`
+		ConfigPath               string   `yaml:"config_path"`
+		OutputSchema             string   `yaml:"output_schema"`
+		WorkDirRetention         string   `yaml:"work_dir_retention"`
+		Report                   *bool    `yaml:"report"`
+	}
+	return safeAudita{
+		Binary: cfg.Binary, Timeout: cfg.Timeout, LLMAPIKey: secretReferenceName(cfg.LLMAPIKey),
+		Modules: cfg.Modules, BaseURL: cfg.BaseURL, Model: cfg.Model,
+		TotalLLMConcurrency: cfg.TotalLLMConcurrency, ProposalLLMConcurrency: cfg.ProposalLLMConcurrency,
+		ValidationModel: cfg.ValidationModel, ValidationLLMConcurrency: cfg.ValidationLLMConcurrency,
+		TranscriptDescription: cfg.TranscriptDescription, ConfigPath: cfg.ConfigPath,
+		OutputSchema: cfg.OutputSchema, WorkDirRetention: cfg.WorkDirRetention, Report: cfg.Report,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func secretReferenceName(secret *configkit.Secret) *string {
+	if secret == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	name := secret.EnvName()
+	return &name
+}
diff --git a/internal/config/defaults.go b/internal/config/defaults.go
index 2d98e38..62ad992 100644
--- a/internal/config/defaults.go
+++ b/internal/config/defaults.go
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ const (
 	DefaultPipelineConfigPathEtc      = "/etc/narratio/pipeline.yml"
 	DefaultSessionConfigPathUsrLocal  = "/usr/local/etc/narratio/session.yml"
 	DefaultSessionConfigPathEtc       = "/etc/narratio/session.yml"
-	DefaultS3AccessKeyIDEnv           = "OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID"
-	DefaultS3SecretAccessKeyEnv       = "OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY"
 	DefaultStorageS3RootPrefix        = "dnd"
 	DefaultWorkspaceRoot              = "/var/lib/narratio"
 	DefaultCampaignsRoot              = "/usr/local/share/narratio/campaigns"
diff --git a/internal/config/load_validate_test.go b/internal/config/load_validate_test.go
index 1c03185..cf73673 100644
--- a/internal/config/load_validate_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/load_validate_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package config
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -8,6 +9,8 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
+
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 func TestRepresentativeLoadDefaultsAndValidation(t *testing.T) {
@@ -83,6 +86,78 @@ whisperx:
 	}
 }
 
+func TestCredentialValuesNeverEnterEffectiveProjectionOrDigest(t *testing.T) {
+	const firstCanary = "credential-canary-first"
+	const secondCanary = "credential-canary-second"
+	t.Setenv("NARRATIO_TEST_ACCESS_KEY", firstCanary)
+	t.Setenv("NARRATIO_TEST_SECRET_KEY", firstCanary)
+	t.Setenv("NARRATIO_TEST_AUDITA_KEY", firstCanary)
+	pipelineYAML := strings.Replace(testPipelineBaseYAML, "audita:\n  binary: audita\n", "audita:\n  binary: audita\n  llm_api_key: NARRATIO_TEST_AUDITA_KEY\n", 1) + `
+storage:
+  backend: s3
+  s3:
+    bucket: test-bucket
+    access_key_id: NARRATIO_TEST_ACCESS_KEY
+    secret_access_key: NARRATIO_TEST_SECRET_KEY
+`
+	pipelinePath, _ := writeConfigFiles(t, pipelineYAML, testSessionBaseYAML)
+
+	first, err := LoadPipeline(pipelinePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	firstYAML, err := MarshalEffectivePipeline(first)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	firstValues, err := EffectivePipelineValues(first)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	serializedValues := ""
+	for _, value := range firstValues {
+		serializedValues += value.Path + "=" + value.Value + "\n"
+	}
+	directYAML, err := yaml.Marshal(first)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	directJSON, err := json.Marshal(first)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, output := range []string{string(firstYAML), serializedValues, string(directYAML), string(directJSON)} {
+		if strings.Contains(output, firstCanary) {
+			t.Fatalf("effective output exposed credential value: %q", output)
+		}
+		for _, reference := range []string{"NARRATIO_TEST_ACCESS_KEY", "NARRATIO_TEST_SECRET_KEY", "NARRATIO_TEST_AUDITA_KEY"} {
+			if !strings.Contains(output, reference) {
+				t.Fatalf("effective output omitted safe reference %q: %q", reference, output)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	t.Setenv("NARRATIO_TEST_ACCESS_KEY", secondCanary)
+	t.Setenv("NARRATIO_TEST_SECRET_KEY", secondCanary)
+	t.Setenv("NARRATIO_TEST_AUDITA_KEY", secondCanary)
+	second, err := LoadPipeline(pipelinePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if EffectivePipelineDigest(first) != EffectivePipelineDigest(second) {
+		t.Fatal("credential value change altered effective digest")
+	}
+	t.Setenv("NARRATIO_TEST_AUDITA_KEY_ALTERNATE", secondCanary)
+	alternatePath, _ := writeConfigFiles(t, strings.Replace(pipelineYAML, "NARRATIO_TEST_AUDITA_KEY", "NARRATIO_TEST_AUDITA_KEY_ALTERNATE", 1), testSessionBaseYAML)
+	alternate, err := LoadPipeline(alternatePath)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if EffectivePipelineDigest(first) == EffectivePipelineDigest(alternate) {
+		t.Fatal("credential reference-name change did not alter effective digest")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestEffectivePipelineValuesPreserveNilEmptyAndExactIntegers(t *testing.T) {
 	base := &PipelineConfig{Audita: AuditaConfig{Modules: nil}}
 	nilValues, err := EffectivePipelineValues(base)
@@ -106,6 +181,13 @@ func TestEffectivePipelineValuesPreserveNilEmptyAndExactIntegers(t *testing.T) {
 	if got := effectiveValueForTest(t, emptyValues, "scriptorium.artifacts.recap.vars.exact"); got != "9007199254740993" {
 		t.Fatalf("exact integer value = %q", got)
 	}
+	encoded, err := MarshalEffectivePipeline(base)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(string(encoded), "9007199254740993") {
+		t.Fatalf("effective YAML lost exact integer: %q", encoded)
+	}
 }
 
 func effectiveValueForTest(t *testing.T, values []EffectivePipelineValueRecord, path string) string {
@@ -138,6 +220,9 @@ func TestValidateMissingAudioSource(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestExamplesLoadAndValidate(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID", "synthetic-example-access-key")
+	t.Setenv("OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY", "synthetic-example-secret-key")
+	t.Setenv("AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY", "synthetic-example-audita-key")
 	examplesDir := filepath.Join("..", "..", "examples")
 	if got, want := maintainedPipelineRoots(t, examplesDir), []string{
 		"pipeline.extraction-subset.yml",
@@ -226,7 +311,7 @@ func TestExamplesLoadAndValidate(t *testing.T) {
 				if cfg.Pipeline.Audita.Model != profile.model {
 					t.Fatalf("audita model = %q, want %q", cfg.Pipeline.Audita.Model, profile.model)
 				}
-				if cfg.Pipeline.Audita.LLMAPIKeyEnv != "" || cfg.Pipeline.Storage.Backend != StorageBackendLocal || cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3 != nil {
+				if cfg.Pipeline.Audita.LLMAPIKey != nil || cfg.Pipeline.Storage.Backend != StorageBackendLocal || cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3 != nil {
 					t.Fatalf("split bundle must remain offline and secret-free: audita=%#v storage=%#v", cfg.Pipeline.Audita, cfg.Pipeline.Storage)
 				}
 				if selectedProfile, ok := SelectedPipelineProfile(cfg.Pipeline); !ok || selectedProfile.Name != profile.name {
@@ -295,6 +380,9 @@ func maintainedPipelineRoots(t *testing.T, examplesDir string) []string {
 }
 
 func TestMaintainedExtractionExamplesPreservePublishedContracts(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY_ID", "synthetic-example-access-key")
+	t.Setenv("OBJECT_STORAGE_KEY", "synthetic-example-secret-key")
+	t.Setenv("AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY", "synthetic-example-audita-key")
 	examplesDir := filepath.Join("..", "..", "examples")
 	full, err := LoadPipeline(filepath.Join(examplesDir, "pipeline.full.annotated.yml"))
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/config/pipeline_configkit.go b/internal/config/pipeline_configkit.go
index 0a8839b..d50e27f 100644
--- a/internal/config/pipeline_configkit.go
+++ b/internal/config/pipeline_configkit.go
@@ -163,8 +163,6 @@ func resolvePipelineConfig(cfg *PipelineConfig, resolution *configkit.Resolution
 	if cfg.Storage.S3 != nil {
 		path := configkit.Keys("storage", "s3")
 		configkit.Default(resolution, path.Key("root_prefix"), &cfg.Storage.S3.RootPrefix, DefaultStorageS3RootPrefix, "default S3 root prefix")
-		configkit.Default(resolution, path.Key("access_key_id_env"), &cfg.Storage.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv, DefaultS3AccessKeyIDEnv, "default S3 access-key reference")
-		configkit.Default(resolution, path.Key("secret_access_key_env"), &cfg.Storage.S3.SecretKeyEnv, DefaultS3SecretAccessKeyEnv, "default S3 secret-key reference")
 	}
 	if cfg.Trim != nil && cfg.Trim.Enabled != nil && *cfg.Trim.Enabled && cfg.Scriptorium == nil {
 		value := &ScriptoriumConfig{Binary: DefaultScriptoriumBinary, Timeout: DefaultScriptoriumTimeout}
diff --git a/internal/config/storage_publish_test.go b/internal/config/storage_publish_test.go
index be1b63f..a083d76 100644
--- a/internal/config/storage_publish_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/storage_publish_test.go
@@ -24,11 +24,8 @@ storage:
 	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix != "dnd" {
 		t.Fatalf("storage.s3.root_prefix = %q, want dnd", cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.RootPrefix)
 	}
-	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv != DefaultS3AccessKeyIDEnv {
-		t.Fatalf("storage.s3.access_key_id_env = %q, want %q", cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv, DefaultS3AccessKeyIDEnv)
-	}
-	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretKeyEnv != DefaultS3SecretAccessKeyEnv {
-		t.Fatalf("storage.s3.secret_access_key_env = %q, want %q", cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretKeyEnv, DefaultS3SecretAccessKeyEnv)
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyID != nil || cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretAccessKey != nil {
+		t.Fatal("storage.s3 credentials should be optional without implicit references")
 	}
 	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.ForcePathStyle {
 		t.Fatalf("storage.s3.force_path_style = true, want false default")
@@ -82,14 +79,32 @@ storage:
 	}
 }
 
+func TestLegacyCredentialReferenceFieldsFailStrictDecode(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, field := range []string{"access_key_id_env", "secret_access_key_env", "llm_api_key_env"} {
+		t.Run(field, func(t *testing.T) {
+			pipelineYAML := strings.Replace(testPipelineBaseYAML, "audita:\n  binary: audita\n", "audita:\n  binary: audita\n  "+field+": LEGACY_SECRET\n", 1)
+			if strings.HasPrefix(field, "access_") || strings.HasPrefix(field, "secret_access_") {
+				pipelineYAML = testPipelineBaseYAML + "storage:\n  backend: s3\n  s3:\n    bucket: test-bucket\n    " + field + ": LEGACY_SECRET\n"
+			}
+			pipelinePath, _ := writeConfigFiles(t, pipelineYAML, testSessionBaseYAML)
+			_, err := LoadPipeline(pipelinePath)
+			if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), field) || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "strict decode") {
+				t.Fatalf("LoadPipeline() error = %v, want strict rejection of %s", err, field)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestStorageS3CredentialEnvNamesLoadAndValidate(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("CUSTOM_KEY_ID", "synthetic-access-key")
+	t.Setenv("CUSTOM_SECRET", "synthetic-secret-key")
 	pipelineYAML := testPipelineBaseYAML + `
 storage:
   backend: s3
   s3:
     bucket: my-dnd-archive
-    access_key_id_env: CUSTOM_KEY_ID
-    secret_access_key_env: CUSTOM_SECRET
+    access_key_id: CUSTOM_KEY_ID
+    secret_access_key: CUSTOM_SECRET
 `
 	pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeConfigFiles(t, pipelineYAML, testSessionBaseYAML)
 
@@ -97,55 +112,69 @@ storage:
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
 	}
-	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv != "CUSTOM_KEY_ID" {
-		t.Fatalf("storage.s3.access_key_id_env = %q, want CUSTOM_KEY_ID", cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv)
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyID == nil || cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyID.EnvName() != "CUSTOM_KEY_ID" || cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyID.Value() != "synthetic-access-key" {
+		t.Fatal("storage.s3.access_key_id did not retain its resolved typed reference")
 	}
-	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretKeyEnv != "CUSTOM_SECRET" {
-		t.Fatalf("storage.s3.secret_access_key_env = %q, want CUSTOM_SECRET", cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretKeyEnv)
+	if cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretAccessKey == nil || cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretAccessKey.EnvName() != "CUSTOM_SECRET" || cfg.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretAccessKey.Value() != "synthetic-secret-key" {
+		t.Fatal("storage.s3.secret_access_key did not retain its resolved typed reference")
 	}
 	if err := Validate(cfg); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v", err)
 	}
 }
 
-func TestStorageS3CredentialEnvValidation(t *testing.T) {
+func TestStorageS3CredentialReferenceValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name        string
 		pipelineYML string
 		wantErr     string
 	}{
 		{
-			name: "invalid access key env name",
+			name: "invalid access key reference",
 			pipelineYML: testPipelineBaseYAML + `
 storage:
   backend: s3
   s3:
     bucket: my-dnd-archive
-    access_key_id_env: "123BAD"
+    access_key_id: "123BAD"
+    secret_access_key: CUSTOM_SECRET
 `,
-			wantErr: "pipeline.storage.s3.access_key_id_env must be a valid environment variable name",
+			wantErr: "secret.invalid_name",
 		},
 		{
-			name: "invalid secret key env name",
+			name: "partial pair",
 			pipelineYML: testPipelineBaseYAML + `
 storage:
   backend: s3
   s3:
     bucket: my-dnd-archive
-    secret_access_key_env: "bad-name"
+    access_key_id: CUSTOM_KEY_ID
 `,
-			wantErr: "pipeline.storage.s3.secret_access_key_env must be a valid environment variable name",
+			wantErr: "must be configured together",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "missing effective reference",
+			pipelineYML: testPipelineBaseYAML + `
+storage:
+  backend: s3
+  s3:
+    bucket: my-dnd-archive
+    access_key_id: MISSING_CUSTOM_KEY_ID
+    secret_access_key: MISSING_CUSTOM_SECRET
+`,
+			wantErr: "secret.unset",
 		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			pipelinePath, sessionPath := writeConfigFiles(t, tt.pipelineYML, testSessionBaseYAML)
-			cfg, err := Load(pipelinePath, sessionPath)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("Load() error = %v", err)
+			pipelinePath, _ := writeConfigFiles(t, tt.pipelineYML, testSessionBaseYAML)
+			t.Setenv("CUSTOM_KEY_ID", "synthetic-access-key")
+			t.Setenv("CUSTOM_SECRET", "synthetic-secret-key")
+			cfg, err := LoadPipeline(pipelinePath)
+			if err == nil {
+				err = ValidatePipelineConfig(cfg)
 			}
-			err = Validate(cfg)
 			if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), tt.wantErr) {
 				t.Fatalf("Validate() error = %v, want to contain %q", err, tt.wantErr)
 			}
diff --git a/internal/config/validate_helpers.go b/internal/config/validate_helpers.go
index a9b5957..73583a0 100644
--- a/internal/config/validate_helpers.go
+++ b/internal/config/validate_helpers.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 var windowsAbsPathRE = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z]:[\\/].*`)
-var envVarNameRE = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z_][A-Za-z0-9_]*$`)
 
 func sortedStringKeys[V any](values map[string]V) []string {
 	keys := make([]string, 0, len(values))
@@ -21,17 +20,6 @@ func sortedStringKeys[V any](values map[string]V) []string {
 	return keys
 }
 
-func validateEnvVarNameField(fieldName, value string) error {
-	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(value)
-	if trimmed == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%s must be non-empty", fieldName)
-	}
-	if !envVarNameRE.MatchString(trimmed) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%s must be a valid environment variable name", fieldName)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 func validateRelativeSafePath(fieldName, value string) error {
 	trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(value)
 	if trimmed == "" {
diff --git a/internal/config/validate_publish.go b/internal/config/validate_publish.go
index 0bb08d5..dff6d81 100644
--- a/internal/config/validate_publish.go
+++ b/internal/config/validate_publish.go
@@ -33,11 +33,8 @@ func validateStorage(cfg StorageConfig) error {
 	if cfg.S3.Endpoint != "" && strings.TrimSpace(cfg.S3.Endpoint) == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.storage.s3.endpoint must be non-empty when provided")
 	}
-	if err := validateEnvVarNameField("pipeline.storage.s3.access_key_id_env", cfg.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := validateEnvVarNameField("pipeline.storage.s3.secret_access_key_env", cfg.S3.SecretKeyEnv); err != nil {
-		return err
+	if (cfg.S3.AccessKeyID == nil) != (cfg.S3.SecretAccessKey == nil) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("pipeline.storage.s3.access_key_id and pipeline.storage.s3.secret_access_key must be configured together")
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/stage/polish.go b/internal/stage/polish.go
index 0e6567c..d6420f7 100644
--- a/internal/stage/polish.go
+++ b/internal/stage/polish.go
@@ -161,6 +161,10 @@ func (polishStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*St
 	if reportEnabled {
 		reportCanonicalPath = canonicalReportPath
 	}
+	credentialReference := ""
+	if env.Config.Pipeline.Audita.LLMAPIKey != nil {
+		credentialReference = env.Config.Pipeline.Audita.LLMAPIKey.EnvName()
+	}
 
 	meta := map[string]any{
 		"stage":                         "polish",
@@ -184,7 +188,7 @@ func (polishStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*St
 		"total_llm_concurrency":         totalLLMConcurrency,
 		"proposal_llm_concurrency":      proposalLLMConcurrency,
 		"validation_llm_concurrency":    validationConcurrency,
-		"llm_api_key_env":               env.Config.Pipeline.Audita.LLMAPIKeyEnv,
+		"llm_api_key":                   credentialReference,
 		"timeout":                       env.Config.Pipeline.Audita.Timeout,
 		"binary":                        env.Config.Pipeline.Audita.Binary,
 		"generated_config_path":         generatedConfigPath,
@@ -199,7 +203,7 @@ func (polishStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*St
 		"adapter_work_dir":              res.WorkDir,
 		"adapter_stdout_log_path":       res.StdoutLogPath,
 		"adapter_stderr_log_path":       res.StderrLogPath,
-		"credential_env_var":            env.Config.Pipeline.Audita.LLMAPIKeyEnv,
+		"credential_env_var":            credentialReference,
 		"credential_present":            false,
 	}
 	if res.Metadata != nil {
diff --git a/internal/stage/polish_test.go b/internal/stage/polish_test.go
index aa7cf69..32768f8 100644
--- a/internal/stage/polish_test.go
+++ b/internal/stage/polish_test.go
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ func setupPolishEnv(t *testing.T) (*Env, *manifest.Manifest) {
 			Audita: config.AuditaConfig{
 				Binary:                   "audita",
 				Timeout:                  "3h",
-				LLMAPIKeyEnv:             "AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY",
+				LLMAPIKey:                testSecretReference("AUDITA_LLM_API_KEY"),
 				Modules:                  []string{"glossary", "homophones", "grammar"},
 				BaseURL:                  "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
 				Model:                    "openrouter/google/gemma-4-31b-it",
diff --git a/internal/stage/prepare.go b/internal/stage/prepare.go
index ccd7258..f8c8ab6 100644
--- a/internal/stage/prepare.go
+++ b/internal/stage/prepare.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/fileops"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/manifest"
-	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 type prepareStage struct{}
@@ -277,7 +276,7 @@ func (prepareStage) Run(ctx context.Context, env *Env, m *manifest.Manifest) (*S
 }
 
 func renderResolvedPipeline(cfg *config.PipelineConfig) ([]byte, error) {
-	return yaml.Marshal(cfg)
+	return config.MarshalEffectivePipeline(cfg)
 }
 
 func stableInputSource(resolved config.ResolvedInputFile, fallbackPath, fallbackConfigPath string) config.ResolvedInputFile {
diff --git a/internal/stage/semantic_contracts_delivery_test.go b/internal/stage/semantic_contracts_delivery_test.go
index 5195d7f..f45b466 100644
--- a/internal/stage/semantic_contracts_delivery_test.go
+++ b/internal/stage/semantic_contracts_delivery_test.go
@@ -4,10 +4,16 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"testing"
 
+	configkit "gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/artifactpolicy"
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/narratio/internal/config"
 )
 
+func testSecretReference(name string) *configkit.Secret {
+	reference := configkit.SecretEnv(name)
+	return &reference
+}
+
 func TestExtractSemanticConfigSensitivityAndOperationalExclusions(t *testing.T) {
 	baseline := downstreamSemanticEnv()
 	want, err := (extractStage{}).SemanticConfigFingerprint(baseline)
@@ -121,8 +127,8 @@ func TestPublishSemanticConfigSensitivityAndOperationalExclusions(t *testing.T)
 	}
 
 	operational := downstreamSemanticEnv()
-	operational.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyIDEnv = "OTHER_ACCESS_KEY"
-	operational.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretKeyEnv = "OTHER_SECRET_KEY"
+	operational.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3.AccessKeyID = testSecretReference("OTHER_ACCESS_KEY")
+	operational.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3.SecretAccessKey = testSecretReference("OTHER_SECRET_KEY")
 	operational.Config.Pipeline.Storage.S3.ForcePathStyle = true
 	operational.Config.Pipeline.Workspace.Root = "/relocated/workspace"
 	got, err := (publishStage{}).SemanticConfigFingerprint(operational)
@@ -199,7 +205,7 @@ func downstreamSemanticEnv() *Env {
 			Workspace: config.WorkspaceConfig{Root: "/workspace"},
 			Storage: config.StorageConfig{Backend: config.StorageBackendS3, S3: &config.StorageS3Config{
 				Bucket: "campaign-bucket", RootPrefix: "narratio", Region: "us-east-1",
-				Endpoint: "https://objects.example", AccessKeyIDEnv: "ACCESS_KEY", SecretKeyEnv: "SECRET_KEY",
+				Endpoint: "https://objects.example", AccessKeyID: testSecretReference("ACCESS_KEY"), SecretAccessKey: testSecretReference("SECRET_KEY"),
 			}},
 			Notarius: &config.NotariusConfig{
 				Enabled: true, Binary: "notarius", ConfigPath: "/etc/notarius/private.yml",
diff --git a/internal/stage/semantic_contracts_refinement_test.go b/internal/stage/semantic_contracts_refinement_test.go
index 5681d0a..ddeecc0 100644
--- a/internal/stage/semantic_contracts_refinement_test.go
+++ b/internal/stage/semantic_contracts_refinement_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestPolishSemanticConfigSensitivity(t *testing.T) {
 			env.Config.Pipeline.Audita.TotalLLMConcurrency = intPointer(20)
 			env.Config.Pipeline.Audita.ProposalLLMConcurrency = intPointer(10)
 			env.Config.Pipeline.Audita.ValidationLLMConcurrency = intPointer(10)
-			env.Config.Pipeline.Audita.LLMAPIKeyEnv = "OTHER_KEY"
+			env.Config.Pipeline.Audita.LLMAPIKey = testSecretReference("OTHER_KEY")
 			env.Config.Pipeline.Audita.WorkDirRetention = "always"
 			env.Config.Pipeline.Audita.Report = boolPointer(false)
 		}},
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ func refinementSemanticEnv() *Env {
 	env := initialSemanticEnv()
 	env.Config.Session.Title = "Session title"
 	env.Config.Pipeline.Audita = config.AuditaConfig{
-		Binary: "audita", Timeout: "10m", LLMAPIKeyEnv: "AUDITA_KEY",
+		Binary: "audita", Timeout: "10m", LLMAPIKey: testSecretReference("AUDITA_KEY"),
 		Modules: []string{"speakers", "terms"}, BaseURL: "https://audita.example",
 		Model: "testing", ValidationModel: "validator", TranscriptDescription: "tabletop session",
 		ConfigPath: "configs/audita.yml", OutputSchema: "audita.transcript.v1",