diff --git a/src/toad/about.py b/src/toad/about.py
index 33f418b1c..2dde4ae2f 100644
--- a/src/toad/about.py
+++ b/src/toad/about.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 import platform
 from string import Template
 
-from pathlib import Path
 from toad.preferences import SavedSettings
 from toad.terminal_attention import TerminalAttention
 from toad import paths
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@
 )
 
 
-def render(root: Path) -> str:
+def render(core: str) -> str:
     """Render about markdown.
 
     Returns:
@@ -95,7 +94,7 @@ def render(root: Path) -> str:
         "COLORTERM": os.environ.get("COLORTERM", ""),
         "COMMS_AGENT_ARGS": shlex.join(InheritedArguments().configured().argv),
         "COMMS_AGENT_BIN": ConfiguredBinary().configured(),
-        "COMMS_ROOT": str(root),
+        "COMMS_ROOT": core,
         "CONFIG": config,
         "DATA_PATH": paths.get_data(),
         "LOG_PATH": paths.get_log(),
diff --git a/src/toad/app.py b/src/toad/app.py
index c5194777e..02f2fceb8 100644
--- a/src/toad/app.py
+++ b/src/toad/app.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from toad.core import events as core_events
 from toad.workspace_sessions import WorkspaceSessionShutdown
 from inspect import isabstract
-from toad.comms_root import CoordinationAccess
+from toad.comms_root import CoreConnection
 
 from toad.thread_actions import ThreadActions
 from toad.widgets.comms_transfer import Transfers
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, Never, TypeVar, cast
 
 from agent_comms.acp_extension import TranscriptChangedUpdate
-from agent_comms.launch_root import LaunchRoot
 from agent_comms.launch_runtime import LaunchRuntime
 from agent_comms.repo import Checkout
 from agent_comms.root_runtime import RootRuntime
@@ -151,7 +150,7 @@ def __init__(
         self,
         agent_binding: AgentBinding,
         project_dir: Checkout,
-        launch_root: LaunchRoot,
+        connection: CoreConnection,
         mode: str | None = None,
         agent_session_id: str | None = None,
     ) -> None:
@@ -160,7 +159,7 @@ def __init__(
         Args:
             agent_binding: The agent selected at startup.
             project_dir: Project directory.
-            launch_root: Coordination root selected by the launch owner.
+            connection: Core transport selected by the launch owner.
             mode: Initial mode.
         """
         from toad.render_processes import RenderProcessPool
@@ -191,7 +190,7 @@ def __init__(
             db=DB(),
         )
         self._session_tracker = SessionTracker(self.tab_order)
-        self.coordination_access = CoordinationAccess(self, launch_root)
+        self.coordination_access = connection.open_access(self)
 
         from toad.file_kind import FileKind
         FileKind.prepare_terminal()
diff --git a/src/toad/cli.py b/src/toad/cli.py
index 6452ea71c..0924a573d 100644
--- a/src/toad/cli.py
+++ b/src/toad/cli.py
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@
 import click
 
 from agent_comms.nominal.field_codec import FieldCodec
-from agent_comms.launch_root import LaunchRoot
 from agent_comms.repo import Checkout
 from toad.session_scope import AgentAttached, AgentBinding, NoAgent
+from toad.comms_root import CoreConnection
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from toad.app import ToadApp
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ def parse_args(self, ctx, args):
         from agent_comms.active_route import ActiveRoute
 
         # Select once at the process boundary; apps receive this captured value.
-        ctx.obj = LaunchRoot.startup(args, ActiveRoute.published_launch)
+        ctx.obj = CoreConnection.startup(args, ActiveRoute.published_launch)
         # Check if first arg is a known subcommand
         if not args or args[0] not in self.commands:
             # If not a subcommand, prepend the default command name
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def main(ctx, version):
 @click.argument("project_dir", metavar="PATH", required=True)
 @click.option("-a", "--agent", metavar="AGENT", default="")
 @click.pass_obj
-def run(launch_root: LaunchRoot, project_dir: str, agent: str = "1"):
+def run(connection: CoreConnection, project_dir: str, agent: str = "1"):
     """Run an installed agent."""
 
     project = FieldCodec.decode(Checkout, project_dir).resolved(strict=True)
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def run(launch_root: LaunchRoot, project_dir: str, agent: str = "1"):
         mode=binding.startup_mode,
         agent_binding=binding,
         project_dir=project,
-        launch_root=launch_root,
+        connection=connection,
     )
     run_terminal(app)
 
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ def run(launch_root: LaunchRoot, project_dir: str, agent: str = "1"):
 @click.option("-d", "--project-dir", "project_option", metavar="PATH", default=None)
 @click.pass_obj
 def acp(
-    launch_root: LaunchRoot,
+    connection: CoreConnection,
     command: str,
     title: str | None,
     project_dir: str | None,
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ def acp(
     app = ToadApp(
         agent_binding=AgentAttached(agent_data),
         project_dir=FieldCodec.decode(Checkout, project_dir).resolved(strict=True),
-        launch_root=launch_root,
+        connection=connection,
         agent_session_id=session_id,
     )
     run_terminal(app)
@@ -275,12 +275,12 @@ def serve(port: int, host: str, toad_args: tuple[str, ...]) -> None:
 
 @main.command("about")
 @click.pass_obj
-def about(launch_root: LaunchRoot) -> None:
+def about(connection: CoreConnection) -> None:
     """Show about information."""
 
     from toad import about
 
-    print(about.render(launch_root.path))
+    print(about.render(connection.location))
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/src/toad/comms_root.py b/src/toad/comms_root.py
index 1ef8747e6..26cbc4ad3 100644
--- a/src/toad/comms_root.py
+++ b/src/toad/comms_root.py
@@ -18,13 +18,14 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field, replace
 from functools import partial
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, TypeVar
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, ClassVar, TypeVar
 from weakref import WeakKeyDictionary, WeakSet
 
 from agent_comms.message_reference import MessageReference
 from agent_comms.child_process import join_retirement
 from agent_comms.comms import Comms
 from agent_comms.core_access import CoreAccess, LocalCoreAccess
+from agent_comms.remote_core import RemoteCoreAccess
 from agent_comms.display_references import PendingReferences, UnavailableReferences
 from agent_comms.errors import RouteChangedError
 from agent_comms.launch_root import LaunchRoot
@@ -95,6 +96,91 @@
 ROUTE_CHECK_SECONDS = 1.0
 
 
+class CoreConnection(ABC):
+    """The selected Core transport: it owns its route selection and opens its observation."""
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def startup(arguments: list[str], published: Callable[[], LaunchRoot]) -> CoreConnection:
+        """Select once at the process boundary; a UI profile selects the remote Core."""
+        if RemoteCoreConnection.argument in arguments:
+            return RemoteCoreConnection.startup(arguments)
+        return LocalCoreConnection.from_launch(LaunchRoot.startup(arguments, published))
+
+    def open_access(self, app: ToadApp) -> CoordinationAccess:
+        return CoordinationAccess(app, self)
+
+    @property
+    @abstractmethod
+    def location(self) -> str:
+        """Where this connection's Core is, as shown to the owner."""
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def route_selection(self) -> RouteSelection: ...
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def open_current(self, access: CoordinationAccess) -> Observing | FailedObservation:
+        """This connection's current observation, or the error that refuses it."""
+
+
+class LocalCoreConnection(LaunchRoot, CoreConnection):
+    """A local connection inherits the selected root and its launch behavior."""
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_launch(cls, root: LaunchRoot) -> LocalCoreConnection:
+        return cls(root.path)
+
+    @property
+    def location(self) -> str:
+        return str(self.path)
+
+    def route_selection(self) -> RouteSelection:
+        return RouteSelection.of(self)
+
+    def open_current(self, access: CoordinationAccess) -> Observing | FailedObservation:
+        """Capture the current route and open its service, or expose the opening error."""
+        selected: RouteSelection | UnselectedRoute = UnselectedRoute()
+        try:
+            selected = self.route_selection()
+            return access.require(selected)
+        except (OSError, ValueError, RuntimeError) as error:
+            return access.observation.failed(error, selected)
+
+
+class RemoteObservationNotServed(RuntimeError):
+    """The connector answers this UI's Core requests but does not yet carry its observation."""
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class RemoteCoreConnection(RemoteCoreAccess, CoreConnection):
+    """The owner's UI profile is the remote connection: Core answers through the connector."""
+
+    argument: ClassVar[str] = "--comms-profile"
+
+    @classmethod
+    def startup(cls, arguments: list[str]) -> RemoteCoreConnection:
+        index = arguments.index(cls.argument)
+        if index + 1 == len(arguments):
+            raise ValueError(f"{cls.argument} requires a UI profile path")
+        connection = cls.read(Path(arguments[index + 1]))
+        del arguments[index : index + 2]
+        return connection
+
+    @property
+    def location(self) -> str:
+        return str(self.endpoint.url)
+
+    def route_selection(self) -> RouteSelection:
+        raise RemoteObservationNotServed(
+            f"{self.endpoint.url} answers Core requests; local route selection does not apply")
+
+    def open_current(self, access: CoordinationAccess) -> Observing | FailedObservation:
+        return access.observation.adopt(ConnectorObservation(
+            RemoteObservationNotServed(
+                f"{self.endpoint.url} does not yet carry the sidebar, status and notification "
+                "observation; conversation pages are read through its Core requests"),
+            UnselectedRoute(), connection=self, access=access))
+
+
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class UnselectedRoute:
     """Route capture failed before a validated selection existed."""
@@ -135,12 +221,15 @@ async def current_references(self, access: CoordinationAccess, root: str):
         return access.reference_context(root)
 
     def failed(self, error: Exception, selected):
-        failed = FailedObservation(error, selected, access=self.access)
-        if failed == self:
+        return self.adopt(FailedObservation(error, selected, access=self.access))
+
+    def adopt[O: Observation](self, observation: O) -> O | Observation:
+        """Make ``observation`` current unless it equals this one."""
+        if observation == self:
             return self
-        self.access.observation = failed
-        self.access.app.running_loop.call_soon_threadsafe(failed.attach, self.access, self)
-        return failed
+        self.access.observation = observation
+        self.access.app.running_loop.call_soon_threadsafe(observation.attach, self.access, self)
+        return observation
 
     def stop_updates(self) -> Observation:
         self.updates.close()
@@ -230,6 +319,18 @@ def observe_team(self, wanted: ObserveTeamHud | StopTeamHud):
         self.access.events.publish(TeamHudFailed(self.error))
 
 
+@dataclass(frozen=True, eq=False)
+class ConnectorObservation(FailedObservation):
+    """Core answers this UI's requests through the connector. Every observed surface
+    refuses with the declared error until the connector carries the observation."""
+
+    connection: RemoteCoreConnection = field(kw_only=True, compare=False)
+
+    @property
+    def core(self) -> CoreAccess:
+        return self.connection
+
+
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class Observing(Observation):
     selection: RouteSelection
@@ -357,9 +458,9 @@ def observe_team(self, wanted: ObserveTeamHud | StopTeamHud):
 class CoordinationAccess(MroDispatch):
     """A validated Core route owns cached access, observations and UI write checks."""
 
-    def __init__(self, app: ToadApp, launch_root: LaunchRoot) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, app: ToadApp, connection: CoreConnection) -> None:
         self.app = app
-        self.launch_root = launch_root
+        self.connection = connection
         from toad.acp.transcript_reader import CoordinationTranscriptReader
 
         self.transcripts = CoordinationTranscriptReader(self)
@@ -392,7 +493,7 @@ def __init__(self, app: ToadApp, launch_root: LaunchRoot) -> None:
     @property
     def selection(self) -> RouteSelection:
         """The current route resolved from this app's held launch root."""
-        return RouteSelection.of(self.launch_root)
+        return self.connection.route_selection()
 
     def selected(self, source: str | Path) -> RouteSelection:
         """Select this app's route and refuse a foreign source."""
@@ -403,14 +504,9 @@ def current(self, source: str | Path) -> bool:
         return self.selection.root_is_current(source)
 
     def open_current(self) -> Observing | FailedObservation:
-        """Capture the current route and open its service, or expose the opening error."""
+        """The connection's current observation, or the error that refuses it."""
         with self.opening:
-            selected: RouteSelection | UnselectedRoute = UnselectedRoute()
-            try:
-                selected = self.selection
-                return self.require(selected)
-            except (OSError, ValueError, RuntimeError) as error:
-                return self.observation.failed(error, selected)
+            return self.connection.open_current(self)
 
     def confirm(self, selected: RouteSelection) -> None:
         if self.selection != selected:
diff --git a/src/toad/slash_command.py b/src/toad/slash_command.py
index 18b4189ee..90c196841 100644
--- a/src/toad/slash_command.py
+++ b/src/toad/slash_command.py
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ async def apply(self, conversation: Conversation) -> bool:
         from toad import about
         from toad.widgets.markdown_note import MarkdownNote
 
-        markdown = about.render(conversation.app.coordination_access.selection.root)
+        markdown = about.render(conversation.app.coordination_access.connection.location)
         await conversation.post(MarkdownNote(markdown, classes="about"))
         conversation.app.copy_to_clipboard(markdown)
         conversation.notify(
diff --git a/tests/native/test_native_catalog_launch.py b/tests/native/test_native_catalog_launch.py
index 906fb1403..1738d9002 100644
--- a/tests/native/test_native_catalog_launch.py
+++ b/tests/native/test_native_catalog_launch.py
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ async def test_store_launch_starts_a_session_and_leaves_the_open_one_alone(works
     with private_catalog_entry() as definition:
         from toad.app import ToadApp
 
-        def with_catalog_agent(*, launch_root, **arguments):
-            return ToadApp(launch_root=launch_root,
+        def with_catalog_agent(*, connection, **arguments):
+            return ToadApp(connection=connection,
                            **{**arguments, "agent_binding": AgentAttached(definition)})
 
         async with native_session(workspace, application=with_catalog_agent) as native:
diff --git a/tests/support/agents.py b/tests/support/agents.py
index 6512cce11..849f74b2e 100644
--- a/tests/support/agents.py
+++ b/tests/support/agents.py
@@ -57,8 +57,10 @@ def __init__(self, app: ToadApp) -> None:
     def unrun(cls, project: Path, launch_root: LaunchRoot) -> AppAgents:
         """For a test with no app running: agents of an app built on ``project`` and never run."""
         from toad.app import ToadApp
+        from toad.comms_root import LocalCoreConnection
 
-        return cls(ToadApp(agent_binding=NoAgent(), project_dir=Checkout(project), launch_root=launch_root))
+        return cls(ToadApp(agent_binding=NoAgent(), project_dir=Checkout(project),
+                           connection=LocalCoreConnection.from_launch(launch_root)))
 
     def agent[A: Agent](self, kind: type[A], definition: AgentDefinition, session_id: str | None = None,
                         **fields: object) -> A:
diff --git a/tests/support/core_adapters/human_input_observer.py b/tests/support/core_adapters/human_input_observer.py
index 54d133c4c..90e02c45f 100644
--- a/tests/support/core_adapters/human_input_observer.py
+++ b/tests/support/core_adapters/human_input_observer.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 from toad.agent import AgentBase
 from toad.agent_schema import AgentDefinition
 from toad.app import ToadApp
+from toad.comms_root import LocalCoreConnection
 from toad.session_scope import AgentAttached
 
 
@@ -180,7 +181,8 @@ def phase(name):
             'accepts_comms_root': True,
         })
         app = ToadApp(agent_binding=AgentAttached(definition), project_dir=subject.worktree,
-                      agent_session_id=subject.name, launch_root=LaunchRoot.from_path(owner._comms.root))
+                      agent_session_id=subject.name,
+                      connection=LocalCoreConnection.from_launch(LaunchRoot.from_path(owner._comms.root)))
         phase('before_actual_toad_run_test')
         async with app.run_test(headless=True, size=(160, 44)) as pilot:
             phase('actual_toad_run_test_yielded_before_saved_view_ready')
diff --git a/tests/support/core_adapters/mcp_permission_observer.py b/tests/support/core_adapters/mcp_permission_observer.py
index 9490b7dc8..637b0581b 100644
--- a/tests/support/core_adapters/mcp_permission_observer.py
+++ b/tests/support/core_adapters/mcp_permission_observer.py
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ async def disconnected(self):
 @asynccontextmanager
 async def open_observer(case: str, artifact_dir: Path) -> AsyncIterator[Observer]:
     from toad.app import ToadApp
+    from toad.comms_root import LocalCoreConnection
     from toad.session_scope import NoAgent
 
     root = Path(artifact_dir).resolve()
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ async def open_observer(case: str, artifact_dir: Path) -> AsyncIterator[Observer
     os.environ.update(env)
     try:
         app = ToadApp(agent_binding=NoAgent(), project_dir=Checkout(root / "project"),
-                      launch_root=LaunchRoot.from_path(root / "wire"))
+                      connection=LocalCoreConnection.from_launch(LaunchRoot.from_path(root / "wire")))
         async with app.run_test(size=(120, 40)) as pilot:
             # Toad starts with no tab open; the observed session is opened here.
             definition = AgentDefinition.decode(AGENT_DATA)
diff --git a/tests/support/workspace.py b/tests/support/workspace.py
index 4691c6424..938c62c93 100644
--- a/tests/support/workspace.py
+++ b/tests/support/workspace.py
@@ -102,10 +102,11 @@ async def app(self, *, size: tuple[int, int] = (120, 40), binding: AgentBinding
         to resume (``resume``); ``session=False`` yields what it started with.
         """
         from toad.app import ToadApp
+        from toad.comms_root import LocalCoreConnection
 
         launch = {} if resume is None else {"agent_session_id": resume}
         app = (application or ToadApp)(agent_binding=binding, project_dir=Checkout(self.project),
-                                      launch_root=self.launch_root, **launch)
+                                      connection=LocalCoreConnection.from_launch(self.launch_root), **launch)
         async with app.run_test(size=size, notifications=notifications) as pilot:
             await app.application.start_worker.wait()
             ui = TextualUi(app, pilot)
diff --git a/tests/textual/test_relaunch_signal.py b/tests/textual/test_relaunch_signal.py
index fdcfebb7f..dda1dbcc5 100644
--- a/tests/textual/test_relaunch_signal.py
+++ b/tests/textual/test_relaunch_signal.py
@@ -9,13 +9,14 @@
 from agent_comms.root_runtime import RootRuntime, RootRuntimeStore
 
 from toad.app import ToadApp
+from toad.comms_root import LocalCoreConnection
 from toad.application_lifetime import Succeeded
 from toad.session_scope import NoAgent
 
 
 async def relaunched_onto(workspace, publish) -> Succeeded:
     app = ToadApp(agent_binding=NoAgent(), mode="store", project_dir=Checkout(workspace.project),
-                  launch_root=workspace.launch_root)
+                  connection=LocalCoreConnection.from_launch(workspace.launch_root))
     async with app.run_test(size=(140, 48)):
         publish(app.coordination_access.selection.root)
         os.kill(os.getpid(), signal.SIGUSR1)
diff --git a/tests/textual/test_scroll_down_bounce.py b/tests/textual/test_scroll_down_bounce.py
index fc7017643..92875a9a8 100644
--- a/tests/textual/test_scroll_down_bounce.py
+++ b/tests/textual/test_scroll_down_bounce.py
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ def _on_frame_published(self):
         self.frames.append((y, reader, page.prepared.start, page.prepared.stop))
 
 
-def recorded_app(*, launch_root, **kwargs):
-    app = ToadApp(launch_root=launch_root, **kwargs)
+def recorded_app(*, connection, **kwargs):
+    app = ToadApp(connection=connection, **kwargs)
     app.remove_mode("workspace")
     app.add_mode("workspace", partial(RecordedHistoryScreen, id="workspace"))
     return app
diff --git a/tests/textual/test_store_agent_actions.py b/tests/textual/test_store_agent_actions.py
index e71d326f9..de82b74a2 100644
--- a/tests/textual/test_store_agent_actions.py
+++ b/tests/textual/test_store_agent_actions.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from support.catalog_steps import choose_action, open_agent, run_action
 from toad.agent_schema import ChatAgentKind
 from toad.app import ToadApp
+from toad.comms_root import LocalCoreConnection
 from toad.session_scope import NoAgent
 from toad.catalog_actions import CatalogCommandAction
 from toad.screens.command_edit_modal import CommandEditModal
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ async def test_agent_actions_run_edit_fail_cancel_and_take_input(workspace):
     with private_catalog_entry():
         from agent_comms.repo import Checkout
         app = ToadApp(agent_binding=NoAgent(), mode="store", project_dir=Checkout(workspace.project),
-                      launch_root=workspace.launch_root)  # starts on the Store: no session to wait for
+                      connection=LocalCoreConnection.from_launch(workspace.launch_root))  # starts on the Store
         async with app.run_test(size=(140, 48)) as pilot:
             ui = TextualUi(app, pilot)
             await ui.until(lambda: isinstance(app.screen, StoreScreen), why="the Store")
diff --git a/tests/textual/test_target_command_context.py b/tests/textual/test_target_command_context.py
index c6bbd4646..d94efc0c1 100644
--- a/tests/textual/test_target_command_context.py
+++ b/tests/textual/test_target_command_context.py
@@ -27,4 +27,4 @@ async def test_target_discovery_keeps_declared_channel_selection(workspace, sele
                    for channel in action.channels.channels_for("owner")}
         assert offered == set(selection.channels_for("owner")) - {NoChannel()}
         assert all(action.channels == selection for action in channel_actions)
-        assert ConfiguredBinary().configured() in about.render(workspace.launch_root.path)
+        assert ConfiguredBinary().configured() in about.render(str(workspace.launch_root.path))
diff --git a/tests/textual/test_window_top_edge.py b/tests/textual/test_window_top_edge.py
index 95d039749..a2209ed3c 100644
--- a/tests/textual/test_window_top_edge.py
+++ b/tests/textual/test_window_top_edge.py
@@ -197,10 +197,10 @@ def block_top_row_text(window, block) -> str:
     return "".join(segment.text for segment in block.render_line(row, block._paint_state))
 
 
-def top_row_app(*, launch_root, **kwargs):
+def top_row_app(*, connection, **kwargs):
     from toad.app import ToadApp
 
-    app = ToadApp(launch_root=launch_root, **kwargs)
+    app = ToadApp(connection=connection, **kwargs)
     app.remove_mode("workspace")
     app.add_mode("workspace", partial(TopRowScreen, id="workspace"))
     return app