diff --git a/frontend/assets/markdown.js b/frontend/assets/markdown.js
index adfe7e3..b931653 100644
--- a/frontend/assets/markdown.js
+++ b/frontend/assets/markdown.js
@@ -6,7 +6,16 @@
  * content can never inject live HTML/XSS. Classic script on purpose:
  * index.html and document.html load it via a plain relative <script src>
  * and both module scripts (app.js / document.js) call the globals it
- * defines. Rendering behavior is unchanged from the original app.js copy.
+ * defines.
+ *
+ * Phase 44 (2026-08-27, TODO.md L6) extended the ~60-line renderer with
+ * one more pass — GFM pipe tables: a table-protection pass (order:
+ * fences → tables → escape) pulls each pipe-table block out as a
+ * \u0000TABLEn\u0000 placeholder, renders it as a semantic, escape-first
+ * <table class="md-table"> inside a horizontal-overflow .md-table-wrap,
+ * and restores it alongside the code blocks in the final step. Fences
+ * win over tables (they are protected first), and everything that is
+ * not a pipe table renders byte-identically to the original app.js copy.
  */
 
 function escapeHtml(s) {
@@ -23,17 +32,96 @@ function renderMarkdown(md) {
     return `\u0000CODE${codeBlocks.length - 1}\u0000`;
   });
 
-  // 2. Escape everything else, then apply inline + block transforms.
-  text = escapeHtml(text)
-    .replace(/`([^`\n]+)`/g, "<code>$1</code>")
-    .replace(/\*\*([^*]+)\*\*/g, "<strong>$1</strong>")
-    .replace(/(^|[\s(])\*([^*\n]+)\*/g, "$1<em>$2</em>")
-    .replace(/^### (.*)$/gm, "<h4>$1</h4>")
-    .replace(/^## (.*)$/gm, "<h3>$1</h3>")
-    .replace(/^# (.*)$/gm, "<h3>$1</h3>")
-    .replace(/^\s*[-*] (.*)$/gm, "<li>$1</li>")
-    .replace(/(<li>[\s\S]*?<\/li>)(?!\s*<li>)/g, "<ul>$1</ul>")
-    .replace(/^\d+\. (.*)$/gm, "<li>$1</li>");
+  // Inline + line-block transforms — the EXACT .replace chain of the
+  // whole-text pass, factored so a table cell gets the identical
+  // pipeline. Escape-first is the caller's job (both paths pass
+  // already-escaped input), so the chain only ever sees inert text.
+  const inline = (s) =>
+    s.replace(/`([^`\n]+)`/g, "<code>$1</code>")
+      .replace(/\*\*([^*]+)\*\*/g, "<strong>$1</strong>")
+      .replace(/(^|[\s(])\*([^*\n]+)\*/g, "$1<em>$2</em>")
+      .replace(/^### (.*)$/gm, "<h4>$1</h4>")
+      .replace(/^## (.*)$/gm, "<h3>$1</h3>")
+      .replace(/^# (.*)$/gm, "<h3>$1</h3>")
+      .replace(/^\s*[-*] (.*)$/gm, "<li>$1</li>")
+      .replace(/(<li>[\s\S]*?<\/li>)(?!\s*<li>)/g, "<ul>$1</ul>")
+      .replace(/^\d+\. (.*)$/gm, "<li>$1</li>");
+
+  // 1b. Protect GFM pipe tables (phase 44, 2026-08-27, TODO.md L6).
+  // A table block starts at a line containing "|" whose NEXT line is a
+  // separator (>=1 pipe-separated cells, each ^\s*:?-+:?\s*$; leading/
+  // trailing pipes optional) and extends over every following line that
+  // still contains "|" (body rows — zero is valid: a header-only table).
+  // The maximal run is one table; anything else (a lone "|" in prose, a
+  // separator without a "|" header above it, a 1-line "table") is left
+  // untouched. Runs AFTER the fence pass (fences win over tables) and
+  // BEFORE the escape pass: only the \u0000TABLEn\u0000 placeholder enters
+  // the pipeline, each cell is escaped + inline-transformed here, and
+  // the final HTML is restored in step 4 (it never re-enters the
+  // paragraph pass). Alignment colons in the separator are parsed but
+  // ignored — every cell renders left-aligned (owner decision 2026-08-27).
+  const tables = [];
+  const splitRow = (line) => {
+    const cells = line.split("|");
+    if (line.trimStart().startsWith("|")) cells.shift(); // leading pipe
+    if (line.trimEnd().endsWith("|")) cells.pop(); // trailing pipe
+    return cells.map((c) => c.trim());
+  };
+  const isSeparator = (line) =>
+    line.includes("|") &&
+    splitRow(line).length >= 1 &&
+    splitRow(line).every((c) => /^\s*:?-+:?\s*$/.test(c));
+  const tableLines = text.split("\n");
+  const kept = [];
+  let pos = 0;
+  while (pos < tableLines.length) {
+    const line = tableLines[pos];
+    const startsTable =
+      line.includes("|") &&
+      pos + 1 < tableLines.length &&
+      isSeparator(tableLines[pos + 1]);
+    if (!startsTable) {
+      kept.push(line);
+      pos += 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+    // Consume the maximal block: header + separator + "|" body lines.
+    const block = [line, tableLines[pos + 1]];
+    let end = pos + 2;
+    while (end < tableLines.length && tableLines[end].includes("|")) {
+      block.push(tableLines[end]);
+      end += 1;
+    }
+    const header = splitRow(block[0]);
+    const width = header.length;
+    const body = block
+      .slice(2)
+      .map((row) => {
+        const cells = splitRow(row);
+        for (let k = cells.length; k < width; k += 1) cells.push(""); // pad
+        // truncate past the header width, escape first, inline transforms
+        return `<tr>${cells
+          .slice(0, width)
+          .map((c) => `<td>${inline(escapeHtml(c))}</td>`)
+          .join("")}</tr>`;
+      })
+      .join("");
+    tables.push(
+      '<div class="md-table-wrap">\n' +
+        '<table class="md-table">\n' +
+        `<thead><tr>${header
+          .map((c) => `<th scope="col">${inline(escapeHtml(c))}</th>`)
+          .join("")}</tr></thead>\n` +
+        (body ? `<tbody>${body}</tbody>\n` : "") +
+        "</table>\n</div>",
+    );
+    kept.push(`\u0000TABLE${tables.length - 1}\u0000`);
+    pos = end;
+  }
+  text = kept.join("\n");
+
+  // 2. Escape everything else, then apply the inline + block transforms.
+  text = inline(escapeHtml(text));
 
   // 3. Paragraphs (double newline separated).
   text = text
@@ -46,6 +134,8 @@ function renderMarkdown(md) {
     })
     .join("");
 
-  // 4. Restore code blocks.
-  return text.replace(/\u0000CODE(\d+)\u0000/g, (_m, i) => codeBlocks[Number(i)]);
+  // 4. Restore protected spans: tables (already final HTML) and code.
+  return text
+    .replace(/\u0000TABLE(\d+)\u0000/g, (_m, i) => tables[Number(i)])
+    .replace(/\u0000CODE(\d+)\u0000/g, (_m, i) => codeBlocks[Number(i)]);
 }
diff --git a/frontend/assets/styles.css b/frontend/assets/styles.css
index 726703c..6f9ed68 100644
--- a/frontend/assets/styles.css
+++ b/frontend/assets/styles.css
@@ -576,6 +576,25 @@ html::after {
 .bubble code { font-family: var(--mono); font-size: 0.88em; background: var(--brand-soft); padding: 0.08em 0.35em; border-radius: 5px; }
 .bubble pre code { background: none; padding: 0; }
 
+/* GFM pipe tables (phase 44, 2026-08-27, TODO.md L6): the shared
+   renderer wraps every table in .md-table-wrap — the horizontal
+   scroller, so a wide table scrolls inside the bubble instead of
+   breaking the 46rem column — around a semantic <table class="md-table">
+   (escape-first cells; alignment colons render left, owner decision).
+   Phase-08 tokens only: --line hairline borders and the thead tinted
+   from the plain surface family — --ink on --surface is 14.5:1 (PLAN
+   §7.2), never the brand. The rules are unscoped on purpose: the same
+   renderer serves the chat bubble, the thinking scratchpad, and the
+   document viewer (.doc-md). width:100% stretches narrow tables to the
+   column; min-width:max-content lets a WIDE table keep its natural width
+   so the wrapper is the real scroller (phase 44 task 03: width:100% alone
+   wrapped the wide table's cells and it never overflowed). Static content
+   — no animation (nothing for prefers-reduced-motion to still). */
+.md-table-wrap { overflow-x: auto; }
+.md-table { border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; min-width: max-content; font-size: 0.9rem; }
+.md-table th, .md-table td { border: 1px solid var(--line); padding: 0.4rem 0.6rem; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; }
+.md-table thead th { background: var(--surface); color: var(--ink); }
+
 .msg.user { justify-content: flex-end; }
 .msg.user .msg-body { align-items: flex-end; }
 .msg.user .bubble {
diff --git a/tests/e2e/mock_llm.py b/tests/e2e/mock_llm.py
index 43c1cf9..b8d977a 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/mock_llm.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/mock_llm.py
@@ -65,6 +65,17 @@ Implements just enough of the aipi surface:
     section, or with the tool conversation not yet started and no tools
     offered — e.g. budgets 0/0) behave exactly as today. ``E2E_REAL_LLM=1``
     ignores the mock entirely (the real model does what it does).
+  - user message containing ``show me a table`` (phase 44, markdown
+    tables, TODO.md L6) -> the fixed table answer (``TABLE_ANSWER``):
+    a 3-column service table, an ``<img onerror>`` XSS probe line, and
+    a deliberately wide 5-column table — byte-stable, so the story E2E
+    can assert the rendered ``<table class="md-table">`` shape, the
+    escaped XSS line, and the wrapper's horizontal scroll inside the
+    46rem column. Checked BEFORE the ``DEFLECT_MODE`` branch (a
+    deflection prompt never carries the marker, same reasoning as
+    ``SUMMARY_MODE``), so a marker question always gets the table
+    answer; the E2E asks it against an on-topic fixture (HIGH gate) and
+    asserts non-deflection.
 
   ``max_tokens`` is honored deterministically (token ≈ whitespace word),
   like a real endpoint: an answer longer than the cap is truncated. This
@@ -163,6 +174,37 @@ _DOCUMENTS_BLOCK_RE = re.compile(r"<documents>.*?</documents>", re.S)
 #: contain the phrase, so every other suite is unaffected.
 TOOLS_TRIGGER = "use your tools"
 
+#: Phase 44 (markdown-tables story, TODO.md L6): a user message
+#: containing this substring (case-insensitive) gets the fixed table
+#: answer (``TABLE_ANSWER`` below) — a 3-column table, an XSS probe
+#: line, and a deliberately wide table (see the module docstring).
+#: Existing E2E questions do not contain the phrase, so every other
+#: suite is unaffected.
+TABLE_TRIGGER = "show me a table"
+
+#: The fixed table answer (phase 44) — byte-stable on purpose: the story
+#: E2E asserts the rendered table shape, the escaped ``<img onerror>``
+#: line (the XSS payload must survive the mock byte-for-byte), and the
+#: wide table's ``scrollWidth > clientWidth`` inside the 46rem column.
+TABLE_ANSWER = (
+    "Here's the shape, in a table:\n"
+    "\n"
+    "| Service | Port | Host |\n"
+    "|---|---|---|\n"
+    "| Caddy | 80 | homelab-gw |\n"
+    "| GitLab | 8929 | homelab-git |\n"
+    "| ntfy | 2087 | homelab-ntfy |\n"
+    "\n"
+    "<img src=x onerror=alert(1)>\n"
+    "\n"
+    "And the wide one:\n"
+    "\n"
+    "| A very long column header to force overflow | Second column with "
+    "some padding text | Third column | Fourth | Fifth |\n"
+    "|---|---|---|---|---|\n"
+    "| value-one | value-two | value-three | value-four | value-five |"
+)
+
 
 #: The agent's ``read_document`` tool-result prefix (app.rag.agent
 #: ``_execute_tool``): ``"Document <source/path>:\n<content>"``.
@@ -298,6 +340,20 @@ def compose_answer(body: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
         answer = "Knowledge base outline:\n- " + " ".join(
             TOKEN_RE.findall(user.lower())[:8]
         )
+    elif TABLE_TRIGGER in user.lower():
+        # Markdown tables (phase 44, TODO.md L6): the story E2E's
+        # deterministic table answer — a 3-column table, the
+        # <img onerror> XSS probe line (it must survive the mock
+        # byte-for-byte so the E2E can prove the renderer neutralizes
+        # it), and a wide 5-column table (guarantees scrollWidth >
+        # clientWidth inside the 46rem column). Byte-stable. Checked
+        # BEFORE the DEFLECT_MODE branch: a deflection prompt never
+        # carries the marker (it lives in the user message, same
+        # reasoning as SUMMARY_MODE), so a marker question always gets
+        # the table answer, whatever the gate says; the E2E asks it
+        # against an on-topic fixture, where the gate is HIGH, and
+        # asserts non-deflection as part of the table test.
+        answer = TABLE_ANSWER
     elif "DEFLECT_MODE" in system:
         answer = (
             "Ah — I haven't done anything like that, so I don't want to make stuff up! "
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_admin_auth.py b/tests/e2e/test_admin_auth.py
index 4bc45b2..175cf95 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_admin_auth.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_admin_auth.py
@@ -208,10 +208,10 @@ def test_admin_login_unlocks_sources_and_tuning(
     login(page, app_url)
     expect(page).to_have_url(app_url + "/sources.html")
     expect(page.locator("#sources-gate")).to_be_hidden()
-    expect(page.locator("#stat-docs")).to_have_text("8")
+    expect(page.locator("#stat-docs")).to_have_text("9")  # phase 44: +tables.md
     expect(page.locator("#stat-chunks")).not_to_have_text("–")
     expect(page.locator("#docs-table")).to_be_visible()
-    expect(page.locator("#docs-tbody tr")).to_have_count(8)
+    expect(page.locator("#docs-tbody tr")).to_have_count(9)
 
     # Chat: the tuning UI is back — header toggle with count badge,
     # Sign out instead of Sign in, Tune under the answer.
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_agent_document_tools.py b/tests/e2e/test_agent_document_tools.py
index dee963c..35ba765 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_agent_document_tools.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_agent_document_tools.py
@@ -327,14 +327,16 @@ def test_marker_question_lists_reads_and_quotes(
     _install_page_hooks(page)
 
     _submit(page, MARKER_QUESTION)
-    # While a tool runs the button carries the "calling tool" label: the
-    # first `tool` frame sets it and it holds until the FIRST answer
-    # delta (the agent loop completes before the answer stream) — so the
-    # poll issued right after the click must catch it inside that window.
-    expect(page.locator("#send-label")).to_have_text("Calling tool…", timeout=20_000)
+    # The "calling tool" label window is transient: the first `tool`
+    # frame sets it and it holds until the FIRST answer delta (the agent
+    # loop completes before the answer stream) — ~0.4 s at the mock's
+    # 0.1 s tool-frame pacing. A polling expect can stride straight over
+    # that window (observed flake, fixed in phase 44 task 03), so the
+    # pre-submit MutationObserver record below is the deterministic
+    # source of truth for the label transition.
     _wait_settled(page)
 
-    # The label transition is also recorded deterministically (no race):
+    # The label transition, recorded deterministically (no race):
     # Thinking… → Calling tool… → … → Send.
     labels = page.evaluate("() => window.__labels")
     assert "Calling tool…" in labels, labels
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_chat_persistence.py b/tests/e2e/test_chat_persistence.py
index 6b478a9..59caa94 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_chat_persistence.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_chat_persistence.py
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ def test_conversation_survives_reload(
     page: Page, app_url: str, mock_llm: int, db_ready: None
 ) -> None:
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8  # A9 formats
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9  # A9 formats (phase 44 added tables.md)
     page.set_default_timeout(30_000)
     page.goto(app_url)
     _ask(page, QUESTION)
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_chat_rag.py b/tests/e2e/test_chat_rag.py
index 50ecb14..90f2d62 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_chat_rag.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_chat_rag.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def test_on_topic_question_streams_grounded_answer(
     page: Page, app_url: str, mock_llm: int, db_ready: None
 ) -> None:
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8  # A9 formats
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9  # A9 formats (phase 44 added tables.md)
     page.set_default_timeout(30_000)
     page.goto(app_url)
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_dark_tech_theme.py b/tests/e2e/test_dark_tech_theme.py
index 7302e72..eaeded7 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_dark_tech_theme.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_dark_tech_theme.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def _seed_kb(mock_port: int) -> ImportSummary:
         db.execute(text("TRUNCATE chunks, documents, query_log"))
         db.commit()
     summary = _run_in_thread(_import_fixtures(mock_port))
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8  # A9 formats
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9  # A9 formats (phase 44 added tables.md)
     return summary
 
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_document_summaries.py b/tests/e2e/test_document_summaries.py
index 2c6b654..1565620 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_document_summaries.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_document_summaries.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Run in isolation (DB must be up: ``podman compose up -d db``):
 
 The fixture KB is a story-dedicated directory
 (``tests/fixtures/summary_kb/`` — the shared ``tests/fixtures/docs/``
-stays at its 8 pinned files) with two documents:
+stays at its 9 pinned files) with two documents:
 
 * ``quadlet/qwen-llamacpp.yaml`` — a non-markdown A9 doc. At import the
   mock ``lite`` model (``SUMMARY_MODE`` marker, ``tests/e2e/mock_llm.py``)
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_global_tuning.py b/tests/e2e/test_global_tuning.py
index d182721..3467b31 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_global_tuning.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_global_tuning.py
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ def test_edit_note_steers_answer(
     page: Page, app_url: str, mock_llm: int, db_ready: None
 ) -> None:
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8  # A9 formats
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9  # A9 formats (phase 44 added tables.md)
     page.set_default_timeout(30_000)
     _open_tuning(page, app_url)
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_honest_deflection.py b/tests/e2e/test_honest_deflection.py
index 24bf478..99b6b1d 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_honest_deflection.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_honest_deflection.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def test_off_topic_question_deflects_honestly(
     page: Page, app_url: str, mock_llm: int, db_ready: None
 ) -> None:
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8  # A9 formats
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9  # A9 formats (phase 44 added tables.md)
     page.set_default_timeout(30_000)
     page.goto(app_url)
     expect(page.locator("#kb-banner")).to_be_hidden()
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_import_documents.py b/tests/e2e/test_import_documents.py
index dbe48ca..bed8dee 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_import_documents.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_import_documents.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ EXPECTED_ROWS = (
     "homelab/networking/static-dns.json",
     "homelab/scripts/uptime_probe.py",
     "homelab/ssh/ssh_aliases.txt",
+    "homelab/tables.md",  # phase 44: the markdown-tables fixture
 )
 
 
@@ -85,13 +86,14 @@ def test_sources_page_lists_indexed_docs(
     page: Page, app_url: str, mock_llm: int, db_ready: None
 ) -> None:
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
-    # Eight A9-format files are imported; .hidden/junk.md is out of scope
-    # (A9 revised — hidden path components are never walked).
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8
-    assert summary.formats == {"md": 4, "yaml": 1, "json": 1, "py": 1, "txt": 1}
+    # Nine A9-format files are imported (phase 44 added homelab/tables.md);
+    # .hidden/junk.md is out of scope (A9 revised — hidden path components
+    # are never walked).
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9
+    assert summary.formats == {"md": 5, "yaml": 1, "json": 1, "py": 1, "txt": 1}
 
     login(page, app_url)  # phase 16: the catalog is admin-only
-    expect(page.locator("#stat-docs")).to_have_text("8")
+    expect(page.locator("#stat-docs")).to_have_text("9")
     # Phase 30: non-markdown fixtures each gained one ``is_summary`` chunk,
     # so the Sources total is content chunks + summary chunks.
     expect(page.locator("#stat-chunks")).to_have_text(
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_kb_overview.py b/tests/e2e/test_kb_overview.py
index 37e5c0c..8f48adb 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_kb_overview.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_kb_overview.py
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ def test_on_topic_answer_echoes_kb_overview(
     the mock's echo of the ``<knowledge_base>`` section's first bullet —
     only possible if the section reached the LLM prompt."""
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True, overview=OVERVIEW)
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8  # A9 formats
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9  # phase 44 added tables.md
     assert _overview_row() is not None  # the row the turn must inject
 
     bubble = _ask(page, app_url, QUESTION, KB_ECHO)
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ def test_mock_generated_outline_is_stored_and_echoed(
     stores the byte-stable 8-token digest of the generator's document
     list, and a chat turn echoes its first bullet."""
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True, overview=None)
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9  # phase 44 added tables.md
     assert _overview_row() is None  # direct import never regenerates
 
     kwargs: dict[str, Any] = {
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_loading_feedback.py b/tests/e2e/test_loading_feedback.py
index 5c7022c..4a8272f 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_loading_feedback.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_loading_feedback.py
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ def test_typing_indicator_during_slow_think(
     """AC1/AC5: the 3s mock warm-up must show the typing indicator for
     >=2s before any text appears, then it is gone once the answer lands."""
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8  # A9 formats
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9  # A9 formats (phase 44 added tables.md)
     page.set_default_timeout(30_000)
     page.goto(app_url)
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_markdown_tables.py b/tests/e2e/test_markdown_tables.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdb1cd0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_markdown_tables.py
@@ -0,0 +1,350 @@
+"""Phase 44 E2E (Playwright): GFM pipe tables in the shared renderer.
+
+Story: ``.agent/user_stories/markdown-tables.md``
+Run in isolation (DB must be up: ``podman compose up -d db``):
+
+    uv run pytest tests/e2e/test_markdown_tables.py -v --no-cov
+
+Seeding reuses the real importer against ``tests/fixtures/docs/`` with
+the deterministic mock embeddings (same pattern as ``test_chat_rag.py``).
+The mock's ``TABLE_TRIGGER`` (``show me a table``, phase 44 task 02)
+returns the byte-stable table answer: a 3-column service table, an
+``<img onerror>`` XSS probe line, and a deliberately wide 5-column
+table. The phase-44 fixture ``homelab/tables.md`` (a 3×3 pipe table
+plus a pipe-heavy fenced block) is the viewer/fence subject — the
+document viewer is database-only, so the imported row is enough.
+
+Test → story mapping (Playwright Mapping Rule):
+1. ``test_chat_table_renders`` — the brain bubble carries
+   ``<div class="md-table-wrap"><table class="md-table">`` with a
+   ``<thead>`` of three ``<th scope="col">`` (Service/Port/Host), the
+   expected body cells, no raw ``|---|`` separator text, and the turn is
+   NOT deflected (the honesty-gate interplay is part of the contract).
+2. ``test_wide_table_scrolls`` — the wide table's wrapper has
+   ``scrollWidth > clientWidth`` and horizontal scroll moves it; the
+   page itself has no horizontal overflow (the 46rem column holds).
+3. ``test_table_xss_safe`` — the ``<img onerror>`` line renders as
+   visible, escaped text: zero injected ``<img>`` nodes, no dialog.
+4. ``test_viewer_table_renders`` — the fixture's pipe table opens from
+   the Sources table (admin) in the modal and renders the same
+   ``<table class="md-table">`` (shared renderer, story AC6).
+5. ``test_fence_not_a_table`` — the fixture's pipe-heavy fenced block
+   renders ``<pre><code>``; the only ``<table>`` in the document is the
+   real pipe table (fences win, story AC3).
+6. ``test_plain_pipe_stays_text`` — a grounded prose answer with a lone
+   ``|`` (the mock echoes the question) renders as text, no
+   ``<table>`` (story AC4).
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import asyncio
+from pathlib import Path
+from threading import Thread
+from typing import Any
+
+from playwright.sync_api import Page, expect
+from sqlalchemy import text
+
+from app.config import Settings
+from app.db import SessionLocal
+from app.rag.importer import ImportSummary, import_sources
+from app.rag.llm import LLMClient
+from e2e.auth_helpers import login
+
+REPO = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+FIXTURES = REPO / "tests" / "fixtures" / "docs"
+
+#: Carries the mock's ``TABLE_TRIGGER`` ("show me a table") and is
+#: on-topic (the fixture set answers it — FTS-OR grounds it, so the
+#: turn is HIGH and the suite can assert non-deflection).
+QUESTION = "Show me a table of my homelab services?"
+#: Grounded kubernetes question with a single ``|`` in the prose — the
+#: mock's default branch echoes the question (first 80 chars), so the
+#: lone pipe lands in the rendered answer.
+PLAIN_QUESTION = "How is my Kubernetes cluster set up? A lone | in prose stays text."
+MOCK_ANSWER_MARKER = "Deterministic mock answer for E2E"
+TABLES_PATH = "homelab/tables.md"
+WIDE_HEADER = "A very long column header to force overflow"
+XSS_LINE = "<img src=x onerror=alert(1)>"
+
+EXPECTED_HEADER = ["Service", "Port", "Host"]
+EXPECTED_ROWS = [
+    ["Caddy", "80", "homelab-gw"],
+    ["GitLab", "8929", "homelab-git"],
+    ["ntfy", "2087", "homelab-ntfy"],
+]
+
+
+async def _import_fixtures(mock_port: int) -> ImportSummary:
+    kwargs: dict[str, Any] = {"_env_file": None, "llm_base_url": f"http://127.0.0.1:{mock_port}/v1"}
+    settings = Settings(**kwargs)  # pyright: ignore[reportCallIssue]
+    return await import_sources([FIXTURES], LLMClient(settings))
+
+
+def _run_in_thread(coro: Any) -> Any:
+    """Run a coroutine on a worker thread.
+
+    Playwright's sync API keeps an asyncio loop running on the test
+    thread, so ``asyncio.run`` cannot be called directly from a test
+    body (the established house helper).
+    """
+    box: dict[str, Any] = {}
+
+    def runner() -> None:
+        try:
+            box["value"] = asyncio.run(coro)
+        except BaseException as e:  # noqa: BLE001 — re-raised on the test thread
+            box["error"] = e
+
+    t = Thread(target=runner)
+    t.start()
+    t.join()
+    if "error" in box:
+        raise box["error"]
+    return box["value"]
+
+
+def _reset_db(mock_port: int, seed: bool) -> ImportSummary | None:
+    """Truncate the KB (+ the global prompt-state rows), then optionally
+    re-import the fixtures (9 docs since phase 44 added tables.md)."""
+    with SessionLocal() as db:
+        db.execute(
+            text("TRUNCATE chunks, documents, query_log, steering_notes, kb_overview")
+        )
+        db.commit()
+    if not seed:
+        return None
+    return _run_in_thread(_import_fixtures(mock_port))
+
+
+def _ask_table_answer(page: Page, app_url: str) -> Any:
+    """Drive the trigger question and return the brain bubble once the
+    whole byte-stable table answer has streamed in (the wide table's
+    last cell lands last)."""
+    page.goto(app_url)
+    page.fill("#message-input", QUESTION)
+    page.click("#send-btn")
+    bubble = page.locator(".msg.brain .bubble").first
+    bubble.wait_for(state="visible", timeout=30_000)
+    expect(bubble).to_contain_text("value-five", timeout=30_000)
+    # Non-deflection is part of the table contract (honesty gate interplay).
+    expect(page.locator(".msg.brain.is-deflected")).to_have_count(0)
+    return bubble
+
+
+def _open_tables_doc_modal(page: Page, app_url: str) -> None:
+    """Admin → Sources → the tables.md row → same-page document modal."""
+    login(page, app_url)  # phase 16: the Sources catalog is admin-only
+    row = page.locator("#docs-tbody tr", has_text=TABLES_PATH)
+    expect(row).to_have_count(1)
+    row.locator("td:nth-child(2) a.doc-link").click()
+    expect(page.locator(".doc-modal")).to_be_visible()
+    expect(page.locator("#doc-modal-title")).to_have_text("Service Port Table")
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# 1. Chat: the pipe table renders as a semantic table
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_chat_table_renders(
+    page: Page, app_url: str, mock_llm: int, db_ready: None
+) -> None:
+    summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9  # phase 44: +tables.md
+    page.set_default_timeout(30_000)
+    bubble = _ask_table_answer(page, app_url)
+
+    # Both tables of the answer rendered: the 3-column service table and
+    # the wide one — each in its horizontal-overflow wrapper.
+    tables = bubble.locator("table.md-table")
+    expect(tables).to_have_count(2)
+    expect(bubble.locator(".md-table-wrap")).to_have_count(2)
+
+    # The 3×3 table: <thead> of three <th scope="col"> + the body cells
+    # (the whole answer has already streamed in — the DOM is settled).
+    first = tables.nth(0)
+    headers = first.locator("thead th[scope='col']")
+    expect(headers).to_have_count(3)
+    assert headers.all_inner_texts() == EXPECTED_HEADER
+    rows = first.locator("tbody tr")
+    expect(rows).to_have_count(3)
+    for i, cells in enumerate(EXPECTED_ROWS):
+        assert rows.nth(i).locator("td").all_inner_texts() == cells
+
+    # The raw markdown must not survive: no separator row, no raw header
+    # row as text anywhere in the bubble.
+    bubble_text = bubble.inner_text()
+    assert "|---|" not in bubble_text, "the |---| separator leaked into the bubble"
+    assert "| Service | Port | Host |" not in bubble_text, "the raw header row leaked"
+
+    # Grounded retrieval: the table fixture is the top source chip.
+    chip = page.locator(".msg.brain .source-chip", has_text="homelab/tables.md")
+    expect(chip).to_have_count(1)
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# 2. Wide table: the wrapper scrolls, the page does not
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_wide_table_scrolls(
+    page: Page, app_url: str, mock_llm: int, db_ready: None
+) -> None:
+    _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
+    page.set_default_timeout(30_000)
+    bubble = _ask_table_answer(page, app_url)
+
+    # The wide table (5 columns, one deliberately long header) sits in
+    # ITS wrapper — the 3-column table's wrapper is not the scroller.
+    wrap = bubble.locator(".md-table-wrap", has=page.locator("th", has_text=WIDE_HEADER))
+    expect(wrap).to_have_count(1)
+    scroll_width, client_width = wrap.evaluate(
+        "el => [el.scrollWidth, el.clientWidth]"
+    )
+    assert scroll_width > client_width, (
+        f"the wide table must overflow its wrapper "
+        f"(scrollWidth {scroll_width} <= clientWidth {client_width})"
+    )
+
+    # Horizontal scrolling (scrollLeft) moves the wrapper's content.
+    before = wrap.evaluate("el => el.scrollLeft")
+    wrap.evaluate("el => { el.scrollLeft = 120; }")
+    after = wrap.evaluate("el => el.scrollLeft")
+    assert after > before, "the wrapper must scroll horizontally"
+
+    # The 46rem chat column must not break the page: no horizontal
+    # document overflow (PLAN §7.1).
+    page_scroll, page_client = page.evaluate(
+        "() => [document.documentElement.scrollWidth, document.documentElement.clientWidth]"
+    )
+    assert page_scroll <= page_client, (
+        f"the page overflowed horizontally ({page_scroll} > {page_client})"
+    )
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# 3. XSS-safe: the <img onerror> probe renders inert text
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_table_xss_safe(
+    page: Page, app_url: str, mock_llm: int, db_ready: None
+) -> None:
+    _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
+    page.set_default_timeout(30_000)
+
+    dialogs: list[str] = []
+
+    def _catch(d) -> None:  # a fired dialog == the probe executed
+        dialogs.append(d.message)
+        d.dismiss()
+
+    page.on("dialog", _catch)
+    _ask_table_answer(page, app_url)
+
+    state = page.evaluate(
+        """() => {
+            const el = document.querySelector('.msg.brain .bubble');
+            return {
+                imgs: el.querySelectorAll('img').length,
+                onerror: el.querySelectorAll('[onerror]').length,
+                text: el.innerText,
+                html: el.innerHTML,
+            };
+        }"""
+    )
+    assert state["imgs"] == 0, "the XSS probe became a live <img> element"
+    assert state["onerror"] == 0, "an onerror attribute survived into the DOM"
+    # The escaped tag renders as VISIBLE text (the escape-first contract).
+    assert XSS_LINE in state["text"], "the probe line must be visible text"
+    assert "&lt;img src=x onerror=alert(1)&gt;" in state["html"]
+    assert dialogs == [], f"dialog fired — the probe executed: {dialogs}"
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# 4. Shared renderer: the viewer/modal renders the fixture's table
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_viewer_table_renders(
+    page: Page, app_url: str, mock_llm: int, db_ready: None
+) -> None:
+    _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
+    page.set_default_timeout(30_000)
+    _open_tables_doc_modal(page, app_url)
+
+    # The same <table class="md-table"> shape the chat bubble gets — the
+    # shared renderer (story AC6) serves the viewer too.
+    table = page.locator("#doc-modal-content table.md-table")
+    expect(table).to_have_count(1)
+    headers = table.locator("thead th[scope='col']")
+    expect(headers).to_have_count(3)
+    assert headers.all_inner_texts() == EXPECTED_HEADER
+    rows = table.locator("tbody tr")
+    expect(rows).to_have_count(3)
+    for i, cells in enumerate(EXPECTED_ROWS):
+        assert rows.nth(i).locator("td").all_inner_texts() == cells
+    assert (
+        "|---|" not in page.locator("#doc-modal-content").inner_text()
+    ), "the separator row leaked into the viewer"
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# 5. Fences win: the pipe-heavy fenced block is code, never a table
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_fence_not_a_table(
+    page: Page, app_url: str, mock_llm: int, db_ready: None
+) -> None:
+    _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
+    page.set_default_timeout(30_000)
+    _open_tables_doc_modal(page, app_url)
+
+    # The fixture's ``` block (pipe table inside) renders as code —
+    # fence protection runs before the table pass (story AC3).
+    pre = page.locator("#doc-modal-content pre code")
+    expect(pre).to_have_count(1)
+    expect(pre).to_contain_text("caddy", timeout=30_000)
+    code_text = pre.inner_text()
+    assert "| Service  | Port |" in code_text, "the fenced header line must stay raw"
+    assert "|----------|------|" in code_text, "the fenced separator must stay raw"
+    assert "| caddy    | 80   |" in code_text
+    assert "| gitlab   | 8929 |" in code_text
+
+    # Exactly ONE table in the whole document — the real pipe table. The
+    # fenced rows (lowercase "caddy"/"gitlab") must not become cells.
+    table = page.locator("#doc-modal-content table.md-table")
+    expect(table).to_have_count(1)
+    cells = table.locator("th, td").all_inner_texts()
+    assert "caddy" not in cells and "gitlab" not in cells, (
+        "the fenced pipe block was parsed as a table"
+    )
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# 6. Non-tables stay put: a lone pipe in grounded prose renders as text
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_plain_pipe_stays_text(
+    page: Page, app_url: str, mock_llm: int, db_ready: None
+) -> None:
+    _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
+    page.set_default_timeout(30_000)
+    page.goto(app_url)
+    page.fill("#message-input", PLAIN_QUESTION)
+    page.click("#send-btn")
+
+    bubble = page.locator(".msg.brain .bubble").first
+    bubble.wait_for(state="visible", timeout=30_000)
+    expect(bubble).to_contain_text(MOCK_ANSWER_MARKER, timeout=30_000)
+    # Grounded (the kubernetes FTS hit), not deflected — this is the
+    # default-answer path, so the echoed question is what we assert on.
+    expect(page.locator(".msg.brain.is-deflected")).to_have_count(0)
+
+    # A single "|" in prose is not a table (no header + separator pair).
+    expect(bubble.locator("table")).to_have_count(0)
+    expect(bubble.locator(".md-table-wrap")).to_have_count(0)
+    assert "A lone | in prose stays text" in bubble.inner_text()
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_no_reply_autoscroll.py b/tests/e2e/test_no_reply_autoscroll.py
index fc76729..c8371bb 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_no_reply_autoscroll.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_no_reply_autoscroll.py
@@ -123,11 +123,11 @@ def _reset_db(mock_port: int, seed: bool) -> ImportSummary | None:
 
 @pytest.fixture()
 def seeded_kb(mock_llm: int, db_ready: None) -> Iterator[None]:
-    """A fresh KB seeded from ``tests/fixtures/docs`` (8 docs, A9 formats),
-    truncated again on teardown. ``db_ready`` (conftest) skips with clear
-    instructions when Postgres is down."""
+    """A fresh KB seeded from ``tests/fixtures/docs`` (9 docs since phase
+    44, A9 formats), truncated again on teardown. ``db_ready`` (conftest)
+    skips with clear instructions when Postgres is down."""
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9
     yield
     _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=False)
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_retrieval_quality.py b/tests/e2e/test_retrieval_quality.py
index 6a0af2d..c9020db 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_retrieval_quality.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_retrieval_quality.py
@@ -87,9 +87,10 @@ def test_multi_format_import_hidden_doc_excluded(
     """A9 (revised): all seven formats import; hidden (dot) paths never do."""
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
     assert summary is not None
-    # Eight A9-format fixture files; .hidden/junk.md must never be walked.
-    assert summary.added == 8
-    assert summary.formats == {"md": 4, "yaml": 1, "json": 1, "py": 1, "txt": 1}
+    # Nine A9-format fixture files (phase 44 added homelab/tables.md);
+    # .hidden/junk.md must never be walked.
+    assert summary.added == 9
+    assert summary.formats == {"md": 5, "yaml": 1, "json": 1, "py": 1, "txt": 1}
 
     # Phase 16: the catalog is admin-only — perform the real form login,
     # then call the API with the signed cookie the browser now holds.
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ def test_multi_format_import_hidden_doc_excluded(
     r = httpx.get(f"{app_url}/api/docs", timeout=10, cookies=cookies)
     assert r.status_code == 200
     docs = r.json()["documents"]
-    assert len(docs) == 8
+    assert len(docs) == 9
     assert all(".hidden" not in d["path"] for d in docs)
     assert {d["path"] for d in docs} >= {
         "homelab/container_gitlab/gitlab.md",
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ def test_multi_format_import_hidden_doc_excluded(
     }
 
     # The Sources page (we're already on it, signed in) reflects the set.
-    expect(page.locator("#stat-docs")).to_have_text("8")
+    expect(page.locator("#stat-docs")).to_have_text("9")
     expect(page.locator("#docs-tbody tr", has_text=".hidden")).to_have_count(0)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_sources_midstream_bug.py b/tests/e2e/test_sources_midstream_bug.py
index 00c82ce..31444cf 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_sources_midstream_bug.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_sources_midstream_bug.py
@@ -154,11 +154,11 @@ def _no_error_banner(page: Page) -> None:
 
 @pytest.fixture()
 def seeded_kb(mock_llm: int, db_ready: None) -> Iterator[None]:
-    """A fresh KB seeded from ``tests/fixtures/docs`` (8 docs, A9 formats),
-    truncated again on teardown. ``db_ready`` (conftest) skips with clear
-    instructions when Postgres is down."""
+    """A fresh KB seeded from ``tests/fixtures/docs`` (9 docs since phase
+    44, A9 formats), truncated again on teardown. ``db_ready`` (conftest)
+    skips with clear instructions when Postgres is down."""
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9
     yield
     _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=False)
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_steering.py b/tests/e2e/test_steering.py
index 1936f4b..e9c0a23 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_steering.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_steering.py
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ def test_tune_under_answer_persists_and_steers(
     page: Page, app_url: str, mock_llm: int, db_ready: None
 ) -> None:
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8  # A9 formats
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9  # A9 formats (phase 44 added tables.md)
     page.set_default_timeout(30_000)
     page.goto(app_url)
     login(page, app_url, next="/")  # phase 16: tuning is admin-only
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_suggestion_chips.py b/tests/e2e/test_suggestion_chips.py
index 259e775..b097bf8 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_suggestion_chips.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_suggestion_chips.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def _seed_kb(mock_port: int) -> ImportSummary:
         db.execute(text("TRUNCATE chunks, documents, query_log"))
         db.commit()
     summary = _run_in_thread(_import_fixtures(mock_port))
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8  # A9 formats
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9  # A9 formats (phase 44 added tables.md)
     return summary
 
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_thinking_display.py b/tests/e2e/test_thinking_display.py
index 2a322c0..6aa1836 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_thinking_display.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_thinking_display.py
@@ -99,11 +99,11 @@ def _reset_db(mock_port: int, seed: bool) -> ImportSummary | None:
 
 @pytest.fixture()
 def seeded_kb(mock_llm: int, db_ready: None) -> Iterator[None]:
-    """A fresh KB seeded from ``tests/fixtures/docs`` (8 docs, A9 formats),
-    truncated again on teardown. ``db_ready`` (conftest) skips with clear
-    instructions when Postgres is down."""
+    """A fresh KB seeded from ``tests/fixtures/docs`` (9 docs since phase
+    44, A9 formats), truncated again on teardown. ``db_ready`` (conftest)
+    skips with clear instructions when Postgres is down."""
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9
     yield
     _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=False)
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_thinking_scroll.py b/tests/e2e/test_thinking_scroll.py
index f34a4f0..9cfd1ae 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_thinking_scroll.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_thinking_scroll.py
@@ -148,11 +148,11 @@ def _reset_db(mock_port: int, seed: bool) -> ImportSummary | None:
 
 @pytest.fixture()
 def seeded_kb(mock_llm: int, db_ready: None) -> Iterator[None]:
-    """A fresh KB seeded from ``tests/fixtures/docs`` (8 docs, A9 formats),
-    truncated again on teardown (same fixture shape as the phase-17/21
-    suites)."""
+    """A fresh KB seeded from ``tests/fixtures/docs`` (9 docs since phase
+    44, A9 formats), truncated again on teardown (same fixture shape as
+    the phase-17/21 suites)."""
     summary = _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=True)
-    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 8
+    assert summary is not None and summary.added == 9
     yield
     _reset_db(mock_llm, seed=False)
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_whole_document_context.py b/tests/e2e/test_whole_document_context.py
index 05a82a6..1006ecf 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_whole_document_context.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_whole_document_context.py
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ The oversized documents are seeded directly via SQLAlchemy (a
 ``documents`` row + 2–3 ``chunks`` rows whose embeddings are the mock's
 own deterministic bag-of-words vectors, so the question's live mock
 embedding genuinely overlaps — no fixture files added:
-``tests/fixtures/docs/`` stays at its 8 files, other suites pin
-``summary.added == 8``).
+``tests/fixtures/docs/`` stays at its 9 files (phase 44), other suites
+pin ``summary.added == 9``).
 """
 from __future__ import annotations
 
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ def test_small_document_path_unchanged(
     path, byte-identical to before — no marker, kubernetes.md cited."""
     _reset_db(None)
     summary = _run_in_thread(_import_fixtures(mock_llm))
-    assert summary.added == 8  # A9 formats (fixture set unchanged)
+    assert summary.added == 9  # A9 formats (phase 44 added tables.md)
 
     bubble = _ask(page, app_url, SMALL_QUESTION)
     expect(bubble).to_contain_text(SMALL_QUESTION, timeout=30_000)
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/docs/homelab/tables.md b/tests/fixtures/docs/homelab/tables.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c6734f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/docs/homelab/tables.md
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# Service Port Table
+
+The table below lists the services that answer on the homelab gateway:
+the service, the port it binds, and the host that runs it.
+
+| Service | Port | Host |
+|---|---|---|
+| Caddy | 80 | homelab-gw |
+| GitLab | 8929 | homelab-git |
+| ntfy | 2087 | homelab-ntfy |
+
+## Pipe characters inside fences
+
+Fenced blocks keep their raw text — the pipe lines below are part of a
+config example, not a table:
+
+```text
+| Service  | Port |
+|----------|------|
+| caddy    | 80   |
+| gitlab   | 8929 |
+```
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_auth_api.py b/tests/integration/test_auth_api.py
index d837f8e..a052b93 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_auth_api.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_auth_api.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def seeded_kb(db) -> Iterator[FakeRagLLM]:
     db.commit()
     llm = FakeRagLLM()
     summary = asyncio.run(import_sources([FIXTURES], llm, session=db))
-    assert summary.added == 8  # A9 formats; .hidden/ skipped
+    assert summary.added == 9  # A9 formats (phase 44 added tables.md); .hidden/ skipped
     yield llm
     db.execute(text("TRUNCATE chunks, documents, query_log"))
     db.commit()
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_chat_api.py b/tests/integration/test_chat_api.py
index 329b91b..4c67162 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_chat_api.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_chat_api.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def seeded_kb(db) -> Iterator[FakeRagLLM]:
     db.commit()
     llm = FakeRagLLM()
     summary = asyncio.run(import_sources([FIXTURES], llm, session=db))
-    assert summary.added == 8  # A9 formats; .hidden/ skipped
+    assert summary.added == 9  # A9 formats (phase 44 added tables.md); .hidden/ skipped
     yield llm
     db.execute(text("TRUNCATE chunks, documents, query_log"))
     db.commit()
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_importer_e2e.py b/tests/integration/test_importer_e2e.py
index 5dabf7a..ac8f859 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_importer_e2e.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_importer_e2e.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ EXPECTED_DOCS = {
     ("docs", "homelab/networking/static-dns.json"),
     ("docs", "homelab/scripts/uptime_probe.py"),
     ("docs", "homelab/ssh/ssh_aliases.txt"),
+    ("docs", "homelab/tables.md"),  # phase 44: the markdown-tables fixture
 }
 
 
@@ -36,12 +37,13 @@ def test_import_fixtures_end_to_end(admin_client, db) -> None:
     llm = FakeEmbedder()
 
     summary = asyncio.run(import_sources([FIXTURES], llm, session=db))
-    # Eight A9-format files; .hidden/junk.md is out of scope (A9 revised).
-    assert (summary.files, summary.added, summary.unchanged) == (8, 8, 0)
-    assert summary.chunks >= 8
-    assert summary.formats == {"md": 4, "yaml": 1, "json": 1, "py": 1, "txt": 1}
+    # Nine A9-format files (phase 44 added homelab/tables.md);
+    # .hidden/junk.md is out of scope (A9 revised).
+    assert (summary.files, summary.added, summary.unchanged) == (9, 9, 0)
+    assert summary.chunks >= 9
+    assert summary.formats == {"md": 5, "yaml": 1, "json": 1, "py": 1, "txt": 1}
     # PLAN §9 per-format summary line: highest count first, then alpha.
-    assert summary.format_counts() == "md:4,json:1,py:1,txt:1,yaml:1"
+    assert summary.format_counts() == "md:5,json:1,py:1,txt:1,yaml:1"
 
     docs = db.scalars(select(Document)).all()
     assert {(d.source, d.path) for d in docs} == EXPECTED_DOCS
@@ -90,13 +92,13 @@ def test_import_fixtures_end_to_end(admin_client, db) -> None:
     r = admin_client.get("/api/docs")  # phase 16: the catalog is admin-only
     assert r.status_code == 200
     body = r.json()
-    assert len(body["documents"]) == 8
+    assert len(body["documents"]) == 9
     assert all(d["chunks"] >= 1 for d in body["documents"])
 
     # Idempotent re-run: nothing re-embedded.
     calls_before = len(llm.calls)
     s2 = asyncio.run(import_sources([FIXTURES], llm, session=db))
-    assert s2.unchanged == 8 and s2.added == 0
+    assert s2.unchanged == 9 and s2.added == 0
     assert len(llm.calls) == calls_before  # unchanged → no embedding requests
 
     db.execute(text("TRUNCATE chunks, documents, query_log"))
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_kb_overview_api.py b/tests/integration/test_kb_overview_api.py
index 7bb79ea..a20c7f1 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_kb_overview_api.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_kb_overview_api.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def seeded_kb(db) -> Iterator[FakeRagLLM]:
     db.commit()
     llm = FakeRagLLM()
     summary = asyncio.run(import_sources([FIXTURES], llm, session=db))
-    assert summary.added == 8  # A9 formats; .hidden/ skipped
+    assert summary.added == 9  # A9 formats (phase 44 added tables.md); .hidden/ skipped
     yield llm
     db.execute(text("TRUNCATE chunks, documents, query_log, kb_overview"))
     db.commit()
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_steering_api.py b/tests/integration/test_steering_api.py
index a50219b..4847558 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_steering_api.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_steering_api.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def seeded_kb(db) -> Iterator[FakeRagLLM]:
     db.commit()
     llm = FakeRagLLM()
     summary = asyncio.run(import_sources([FIXTURES], llm, session=db))
-    assert summary.added == 8  # A9 formats; .hidden/ skipped
+    assert summary.added == 9  # A9 formats (phase 44 added tables.md); .hidden/ skipped
     yield llm
     db.execute(text("TRUNCATE chunks, documents, query_log, steering_notes"))
     db.commit()
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_markdown_tables.py b/tests/unit/test_markdown_tables.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6c4c46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_markdown_tables.py
@@ -0,0 +1,350 @@
+"""Unit: the shared renderer's GFM pipe-table pass (phase 44, task 01).
+
+Browser behavior is E2E-covered by ``tests/e2e/test_markdown_tables.py``
+(task 03); here we pin the source-level contract — the pass ordering
+(fences → tables → escape), the escape-first cell pipeline, the exact
+output markers, the placeholder restore, and the ``.md-table`` /
+``.md-table-wrap`` CSS rules — so a silent regression is caught without
+a browser (the established frontend pattern). A small node-driven
+behavioral check (skipped when node is unavailable, like the phase-10
+renderer check in ``test_document_viewer.py``) proves the four story
+acceptance shapes: table, XSS cell, fence-wins, non-tables stay text.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import re
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+FRONTEND = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2] / "frontend"
+ASSETS = FRONTEND / "assets"
+MARKDOWN_JS = ASSETS / "markdown.js"
+STYLES_CSS = ASSETS / "styles.css"
+
+HAVE_NODE = shutil.which("node") is not None
+
+
+def _text(path: Path) -> str:
+    assert path.is_file(), f"missing frontend file: {path}"
+    return path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+
+def _run_node(script: str) -> str:
+    proc = subprocess.run(["node", "-e", script], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=60)
+    assert proc.returncode == 0, f"node failed: {proc.stderr}"
+    return proc.stdout
+
+
+# ---------- markdown.js: the table-protection pass ----------
+
+
+def test_table_pass_runs_after_fences_and_before_escape() -> None:
+    """The renderer's pass order is fences → tables → escape (story AC3:
+    a |-heavy fenced block is protected before the table pass ever sees
+    it, so fences win). Pinned by the placeholder-emission order in the
+    source: the \\u0000CODEn\\u0000 push (step 1) precedes the
+    \\u0000TABLEn\\u0000 push (step 1b), which precedes step 2's
+    escape of the whole text."""
+    js = _text(MARKDOWN_JS)
+    fence_emit = r"\u0000CODE${codeBlocks.length - 1}\u0000"
+    table_emit = r"\u0000TABLE${tables.length - 1}\u0000"
+    assert fence_emit in js, "the fence pass keeps its CODE placeholder"
+    assert table_emit in js, "the table pass emits a TABLE placeholder"
+    assert js.find(fence_emit) < js.find(table_emit), (
+        "the fence pass must run BEFORE the table pass (fences win)"
+    )
+    assert "escapeHtml(text)" in js, "step 2 still escapes the whole text"
+    assert js.find(table_emit) < js.find("escapeHtml(text)"), (
+        "the table pass must run BEFORE the escape pass (cells are escaped per-cell)"
+    )
+
+
+def test_table_detection_requires_pipe_header_then_separator() -> None:
+    """Detection (per the phase spec): a table block starts at a line
+    containing '|' whose NEXT line is a separator — >=1 pipe-separated
+    cells, each ^\\s*:?-+:?\\s*$ (leading/trailing pipes allowed) — and
+    extends over every following line that still contains '|'; the
+    maximal run is one table. Everything else is left untouched."""
+    js = _text(MARKDOWN_JS)
+    # the separator cell rule (alignment colons accepted, then ignored)
+    assert r"^\s*:?-+:?\s*$" in js, "the separator cell rule ^\\s*:?-+:?\\s*$ is missing"
+    # a table starts at a '|' line whose NEXT line is the separator
+    assert 'line.includes("|")' in js, "the header line must contain '|'"
+    assert "isSeparator(tableLines[pos + 1])" in js, (
+        "the NEXT line after the '|' line must be the separator"
+    )
+    # the body extends over every following line that still contains '|'
+    assert 'tableLines[end].includes("|")' in js, (
+        "the table body must extend over every following line containing '|'"
+    )
+    # zero body rows is valid — body = the lines after header + separator
+    assert "slice(2)" in js, "body rows are the lines after header + separator"
+
+
+def test_cells_are_escaped_then_inline_transformed() -> None:
+    """Escape-first is the renderer invariant: each cell (header AND
+    body) goes through escapeHtml() BEFORE the inline transforms, and
+    the inline chain is the SAME factored helper the whole-text path
+    uses — so cells keep `code` / **bold** / *em* exactly like prose."""
+    js = _text(MARKDOWN_JS)
+    assert js.count("inline(escapeHtml(c))") >= 2, (
+        "header and body cells must both run inline(escapeHtml(cell))"
+    )
+    # the whole-text path runs the same helper over the escaped text
+    assert "text = inline(escapeHtml(text));" in js, (
+        "step 2 must reuse the SAME factored inline chain"
+    )
+    # the helper carries the exact original .replace chain
+    helper_start = js.find("const inline = (s) =>")
+    assert helper_start != -1, "the inline chain must be factored into a local helper"
+    helper = js[helper_start : js.find(";", js.find("gm", helper_start)) + 1]
+    for marker in (
+        r"/`([^`\n]+)`/g",
+        r"\*\*([^*]+)\*\*",
+        r"(^|[\s(])\*([^*\n]+)\*",
+        r"/^### (.*)$/gm",
+        r"/^## (.*)$/gm",
+        r"/^# (.*)$/gm",
+        r"/^\s*[-*] (.*)$/gm",
+        r"(<li>[\s\S]*?<\/li>)(?!\s*<li>)",
+        r"/^\d+\. (.*)$/gm",
+    ):
+        assert marker in helper, f"the factored helper lost the {marker!r} step"
+    assert js.count("replace(/`([^`\\n]+)`/g") == 1, (
+        "the code-span replace must live ONLY in the factored helper"
+    )
+
+
+def test_table_output_markers_and_wrap() -> None:
+    """The exact output shape the story pins: a semantic table inside a
+    horizontal-overflow wrapper — <div class=\"md-table-wrap\"> /
+    <table class=\"md-table\"> / <thead> with th scope=\"col\" headers /
+    <tbody> body rows (a header-only table omits the empty <tbody>)."""
+    js = _text(MARKDOWN_JS)
+    assert '<div class="md-table-wrap">' in js
+    assert '<table class="md-table">' in js
+    assert "<thead><tr>" in js
+    assert '<th scope="col">' in js, "headers must carry scope=\"col\""
+    assert "</thead>" in js and "</table>" in js and "</div>" in js
+    assert "<tbody>" in js and "</tbody>" in js
+    assert "<td>" in js and "</tr>" in js
+    # header-only tables: the tbody is conditional on having body rows
+    assert re.search(r"body\s*\?", js), "a header-only table must skip the <tbody>"
+    # the assembly order inside the push template: wrap, table, thead,
+    # (tbody), close — pinned on the quoted source literals (the header
+    # comment mentions the shapes out of order on purpose)
+    wrap_lit = "'<div class=\"md-table-wrap\">\\n'"
+    table_lit = "'<table class=\"md-table\">\\n'"
+    assert js.find(wrap_lit) != -1, "the template must open the .md-table-wrap div"
+    assert js.find(table_lit) != -1, "the template must open the table inside the wrap"
+    assert js.find(wrap_lit) < js.find(table_lit), "the wrap opens before the table"
+    assert '</table>\\n</div>' in js, "the template closes the table, then the wrap"
+
+
+def test_header_and_body_rows_pad_and_truncate_to_header_width() -> None:
+    """Defensive ragged rows: short rows are padded with empty <td>s,
+    long rows are truncated to the header width (mock and real answers
+    are well-formed; this only guards the parser)."""
+    js = _text(MARKDOWN_JS)
+    assert re.search(r"cells\.push\(\"\"\)", js), "short rows must be padded"
+    assert re.search(r"slice\(0,\s*width\)", js), "long rows must be truncated"
+    assert "const width = header.length;" in js, "the header row sets the column count"
+
+
+def test_placeholder_restored_alongside_code_blocks() -> None:
+    """Step 4 is the ONLY place placeholders re-expand — the TABLE
+    placeholders are restored there, next to the CODE ones, so the
+    final table HTML never re-enters the escape/paragraph passes."""
+    js = _text(MARKDOWN_JS)
+    fn = js.find("function renderMarkdown")
+    assert fn != -1
+    body = js[fn:]
+    # step 4 is the ONLY restore point and it restores BOTH placeholder
+    # kinds, indexing their arrays
+    assert r"\u0000TABLE(\d+)\u0000/g" in body, (
+        "step 4 must restore the \\u0000TABLEn\\u0000 placeholders"
+    )
+    assert "tables[Number(i)]" in body, "restoration must index the tables array"
+    assert r"\u0000CODE(\d+)\u0000/g" in body, "the CODE restore stays in step 4"
+    # the TABLE restore is AFTER the paragraph pass — the restored final
+    # HTML never re-enters it
+    assert body.find(r"\u0000TABLE(\d+)\u0000/g") > body.find("split(/\\n{2,}/)"), (
+        "placeholders are restored AFTER the paragraph pass"
+    )
+
+
+def test_alignment_colons_are_parsed_but_ignored() -> None:
+    """Owner decision (2026-08-27): the separator's alignment colons
+    match the cell rule (so ':---:' is a valid separator) but are never
+    turned into CSS alignment — the CSS pins every cell to left."""
+    js = _text(MARKDOWN_JS)
+    assert r"^\s*:?-+:?\s*$" in js, "colons must be accepted in separators"
+    css = _text(STYLES_CSS)
+    th_td = re.search(r"\.md-table th, .md-table td \{([^}]*)\}", css)
+    assert th_td, "styles.css must style .md-table th/td"
+    assert "text-align: left" in th_td.group(1), "all cells render left-aligned"
+
+
+def test_header_comment_notes_the_table_pass() -> None:
+    """The file's header comment records the extension (2026-08-27,
+    TODO.md L6) — the ~60-line no-CDN renderer now also does tables."""
+    header = _text(MARKDOWN_JS).split("*/", 1)[0]
+    assert "Phase 44" in header
+    assert "2026-08-27" in header
+    assert "TODO.md L6" in header
+    assert re.search(r"table", header, re.I), "the header comment must mention tables"
+    assert "no CDN" in header, "the no-CDN contract stays stated (A11)"
+
+
+# ---------- styles.css: the .md-table / .md-table-wrap rules ----------
+
+
+def test_table_wrap_is_the_horizontal_scroller() -> None:
+    """.md-table-wrap { overflow-x: auto } — the wrapper (not the
+    table) is the scroller, so a wide table scrolls inside the bubble
+    instead of breaking the 46rem column (story AC5)."""
+    css = _text(STYLES_CSS)
+    block = re.search(r"\.md-table-wrap\s*\{([^}]*)\}", css)
+    assert block, "styles.css must define .md-table-wrap"
+    assert re.search(r"overflow-x:\s*auto", block.group(1)), (
+        "the wrapper must scroll horizontally"
+    )
+
+
+def test_table_rule_and_cell_borders_use_the_palette() -> None:
+    """.md-table is border-collapse, full-width (min-width: max-content
+    keeps a wide table at its natural width so the wrap scrolls — phase
+    44 task 03), 0.9rem; th/td carry the --line 1px borders, 0.4rem
+    0.6rem padding, left alignment, top vertical alignment; the thead is
+    tinted from the PLAIN surface family (PLAN §7.2: --ink on --surface
+    is 14.5:1) — never the brand tokens."""
+    css = _text(STYLES_CSS)
+    table = re.search(r"(?<![-\w])\.md-table\s*\{([^}]*)\}", css)
+    assert table, "styles.css must define .md-table"
+    body = table.group(1)
+    assert re.search(r"border-collapse:\s*collapse", body)
+    assert re.search(r"width:\s*100%", body), "narrow tables stretch to the column"
+    assert re.search(r"min-width:\s*max-content", body), (
+        "wide tables must keep their natural width so .md-table-wrap scrolls"
+    )
+    assert re.search(r"font-size:\s*0\.9rem", body)
+    cells = re.search(r"\.md-table th, .md-table td\s*\{([^}]*)\}", css)
+    assert cells, "styles.css must style .md-table th and td"
+    cell_body = cells.group(1)
+    assert re.search(r"border:\s*1px solid var\(--line\)", cell_body), (
+        "cells must carry the quiet --line hairline borders"
+    )
+    assert re.search(r"padding:\s*0\.4rem 0\.6rem", cell_body)
+    assert re.search(r"text-align:\s*left", cell_body)
+    assert re.search(r"vertical-align:\s*top", cell_body)
+    thead = re.search(r"\.md-table thead th\s*\{([^}]*)\}", css)
+    assert thead, "styles.css must tint the thead cells"
+    thead_body = thead.group(1)
+    assert "var(--surface)" in thead_body, "thead tint is the plain surface family"
+    assert "var(--ink)" in thead_body, "--ink on --surface is 14.5:1 (>= 4.5:1)"
+    assert "--brand" not in thead_body, "never the brand tokens on the thead"
+
+
+def test_table_rules_carry_no_motion() -> None:
+    """Reduced-motion consistency: the table rules are static content —
+    no animation/transition for prefers-reduced-motion to still (the
+    phase-44 comment states this, like the phase-08/22/36 static
+    components)."""
+    css = _text(STYLES_CSS)
+    rules = (
+        r"\.md-table-wrap",
+        r"(?<![-\w])\.md-table",
+        r"\.md-table th, .md-table td",
+        r"\.md-table thead th",
+    )
+    for name in rules:
+        block = re.search(name + r"\s*\{([^}]*)\}", css)
+        assert block, f"styles.css must define {name}"
+        assert "animation" not in block.group(1), f"{name} must not animate"
+        assert "transition" not in block.group(1), f"{name} must not transition"
+    assert re.search(r"nothing for\s+prefers-reduced-motion to still", css), (
+        "the table block comment must note there is nothing to still"
+    )
+
+
+def test_table_css_lives_with_the_bubble_markdown_rules() -> None:
+    """Placement (task 01 step 2): the table rules sit with the
+    markdown/content styling — right after the .bubble code rules,
+    before the .msg.user block — and are unscoped so the shared
+    renderer's tables in the thinking scratchpad and the document
+    viewer (.doc-md) get the same treatment."""
+    css = _text(STYLES_CSS)
+    assert css.find('.bubble pre code {') < css.find(".md-table-wrap"), (
+        "the table rules follow the bubble markdown content rules"
+    )
+    assert css.find(".md-table thead th") < css.find(".msg.user {"), (
+        "the table rules stay in the Messages section"
+    )
+    # no .bubble-scoped table variant: one rule set serves all consumers
+    assert re.search(r"\.bubble\s+\.md-table", css) is None, (
+        "the table rules must be unscoped (shared renderer consumers)"
+    )
+
+
+# ---------- behavior (node): the story's acceptance shapes ----------
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not HAVE_NODE, reason="node not available")
+def test_table_renders_semantic_xss_safe_and_fences_win() -> None:
+    """The four story shapes executed under node: (1) a pipe table with
+    leading/trailing pipes + inline markdown in cells renders the
+    <div class=\"md-table-wrap\"><table class=\"md-table\"> shape with
+    <th scope=\"col\"> headers and padded ragged rows, and NO raw
+    separator line survives; (2) a cell with an HTML tag is escaped;
+    (3) a |-heavy fenced block stays <pre><code>; (4) a lone pipe in
+    prose, a separator without a header, and a 1-line 'table' stay
+    text."""
+    js = _text(MARKDOWN_JS)
+    cases = {
+        "table": (
+            "Here:\n\n| Service | Port |\n|:---|---:|\n| **api** | 8000 |\n| web |",
+            [
+                '<div class="md-table-wrap">',
+                '<table class="md-table">',
+                "<thead><tr><th scope=\"col\">Service</th><th scope=\"col\">Port</th></tr></thead>",
+                "<tbody><tr><td><strong>api</strong></td><td>8000</td></tr>"
+                "<tr><td>web</td><td></td></tr></tbody>",
+                "</table>\n</div>",
+            ],
+            ["|:---|---:|", "| **api** |"],
+        ),
+        "xss": (
+            "| c |\n|---|\n| <img src=x onerror=alert(1)> & co |",
+            ["&lt;img src=x onerror=alert(1)&gt; &amp; co"],
+            ["<img"],
+        ),
+        "fence": (
+            "```\n| a | b |\n|---|---|\n| 1 | 2 |\n```",
+            ["<pre><code>| a | b |"],
+            ["<table"],
+        ),
+        "not_tables": (
+            "a | b prose\n\n---\n\n| only a line\n\nend |---|",
+            ["<p>a | b prose</p>", "<p>---</p>", "<p>| only a line</p>", "<p>end |---|</p>"],
+            ["<table"],
+        ),
+    }
+    driver = (
+        js
+        + "\nconst out = {}; "
+        + "".join(
+            f"out.{name} = renderMarkdown({value!r}); " for name, (value, _, _) in cases.items()
+        )
+        + "console.log(JSON.stringify(out));"
+    )
+    results = json.loads(_run_node(driver))
+    for name, (_, must_contain, must_not) in cases.items():
+        html = results[name]
+        for marker in must_contain:
+            assert marker in html, f"{name}: missing {marker!r} in {html!r}"
+        for marker in must_not:
+            assert marker not in html, f"{name}: unexpected {marker!r} in {html!r}"