diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 613df99..0e25c43 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,11 +11,11 @@ integration PRs, follows `main` through production, and pauses after failures.
 
 ## Install
 
-Install the reviewed `v0.2.2` source commit directly from GitHub:
+Install the reviewed `v0.2.3` source commit directly from GitHub:
 
 ```bash
 python3 -m pip install \
-  'deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@2a502a74251e2fbb07e5b4769ce99687235df5ae'
+  'deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@c9e3d6976b372ef5bcbb2986b0afd6bb1afe9470'
 deploybot init
 ```
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ aligned with `pipeline.ci_workflows`. The privileged worker never checks out or
 executes pull-request code. Pin the Action to the full reviewed release commit:
 
 ```yaml
-- uses: Forward-Future/DeployBot@2a502a74251e2fbb07e5b4769ce99687235df5ae
+- uses: Forward-Future/DeployBot@c9e3d6976b372ef5bcbb2986b0afd6bb1afe9470
 ```
 
 The Action uses GitHub's built-in workflow token. GitHub intentionally does not
diff --git a/adapters/claude-code/.claude-plugin/plugin.json b/adapters/claude-code/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
index 1264963..43f200e 100644
--- a/adapters/claude-code/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/adapters/claude-code/.claude-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "deploybot",
-  "version": "0.2.2",
+  "version": "0.2.3",
   "description": "DeployBot: a provider-neutral GitHub merge queue for coding agents",
   "author": {
     "name": "DeployBot contributors"
diff --git a/adapters/claude-code/.mcp.json b/adapters/claude-code/.mcp.json
index 6a20b28..3c6171d 100644
--- a/adapters/claude-code/.mcp.json
+++ b/adapters/claude-code/.mcp.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "command": "uvx",
       "args": [
         "--from",
-        "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@2a502a74251e2fbb07e5b4769ce99687235df5ae",
+        "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@c9e3d6976b372ef5bcbb2986b0afd6bb1afe9470",
         "deploybot-mcp"
       ]
     }
diff --git a/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.codex-plugin/plugin.json b/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
index 63b1eb3..8ba0978 100644
--- a/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
+++ b/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "deploybot",
-  "version": "0.2.2",
+  "version": "0.2.3",
   "description": "Review, queue, and land pull requests through a shared GitHub merge queue",
   "author": {
     "name": "DeployBot contributors"
diff --git a/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.mcp.json b/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.mcp.json
index 6a20b28..3c6171d 100644
--- a/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.mcp.json
+++ b/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/.mcp.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "command": "uvx",
       "args": [
         "--from",
-        "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@2a502a74251e2fbb07e5b4769ce99687235df5ae",
+        "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@c9e3d6976b372ef5bcbb2986b0afd6bb1afe9470",
         "deploybot-mcp"
       ]
     }
diff --git a/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/skills/deploybot/agents/openai.yaml b/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/skills/deploybot/agents/openai.yaml
index 085d42a..e910fd7 100644
--- a/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/skills/deploybot/agents/openai.yaml
+++ b/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/skills/deploybot/agents/openai.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 interface:
   display_name: "DeployBot"
-  short_description: "Inspect and manage agent merge queues"
-  default_prompt: "Use $deploybot to show the current merge queue and explain what is ready, waiting, or blocked."
+  short_description: "Inspect and operate the delivery pipeline"
+  default_prompt: "Use $deploybot to show threads, pull requests, queue, CI, deployment, and any blocker or repair handoff."
 dependencies:
   tools:
     - type: "mcp"
diff --git a/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/skills/manage-merge-queue/agents/openai.yaml b/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/skills/manage-merge-queue/agents/openai.yaml
index 987ff43..ea5249c 100644
--- a/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/skills/manage-merge-queue/agents/openai.yaml
+++ b/adapters/codex/agent-merge-queue/skills/manage-merge-queue/agents/openai.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 interface:
   display_name: "Manage Merge Queue"
-  short_description: "Review, queue, and land pull requests safely"
-  default_prompt: "Use $manage-merge-queue to review and enqueue my pull request, then coordinate the merge queue."
+  short_description: "Review and deliver pull requests safely"
+  default_prompt: "Use $manage-merge-queue to review my pull request, record deploy intent, and let DeployBot deliver it."
 dependencies:
   tools:
     - type: "mcp"
diff --git a/adapters/cursor/.cursor/mcp.json b/adapters/cursor/.cursor/mcp.json
index 6a20b28..3c6171d 100644
--- a/adapters/cursor/.cursor/mcp.json
+++ b/adapters/cursor/.cursor/mcp.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
       "command": "uvx",
       "args": [
         "--from",
-        "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@2a502a74251e2fbb07e5b4769ce99687235df5ae",
+        "deploybot-merge-queue[mcp] @ git+https://github.com/Forward-Future/DeployBot.git@c9e3d6976b372ef5bcbb2986b0afd6bb1afe9470",
         "deploybot-mcp"
       ]
     }
diff --git a/examples/github-workflow.yml b/examples/github-workflow.yml
index ff210d4..6a3fef0 100644
--- a/examples/github-workflow.yml
+++ b/examples/github-workflow.yml
@@ -37,5 +37,5 @@ jobs:
         with:
           ref: ${{ github.event.repository.default_branch }}
           persist-credentials: false
-      # v0.2.2 implementation; keep the full commit for privileged workflows.
-      - uses: Forward-Future/DeployBot@2a502a74251e2fbb07e5b4769ce99687235df5ae
+      # v0.2.3 implementation; keep the full commit for privileged workflows.
+      - uses: Forward-Future/DeployBot@c9e3d6976b372ef5bcbb2986b0afd6bb1afe9470
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 2aa2ee7..9806aa9 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "deploybot-merge-queue"
-version = "0.2.2"
+version = "0.2.3"
 description = "DeployBot: a provider-neutral GitHub merge queue for coding agents"
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "MIT"
diff --git a/skills/deploybot/agents/openai.yaml b/skills/deploybot/agents/openai.yaml
index 97d5ca9..8104da3 100644
--- a/skills/deploybot/agents/openai.yaml
+++ b/skills/deploybot/agents/openai.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 interface:
   display_name: "DeployBot"
-  short_description: "Inspect and manage agent merge queues"
-  default_prompt: "Use $deploybot to show the current merge queue and explain what is ready, waiting, or blocked."
+  short_description: "Inspect and operate the delivery pipeline"
+  default_prompt: "Use $deploybot to show threads, pull requests, queue, CI, deployment, and any blocker or repair handoff."
diff --git a/skills/manage-merge-queue/agents/openai.yaml b/skills/manage-merge-queue/agents/openai.yaml
index d944703..4b576ad 100644
--- a/skills/manage-merge-queue/agents/openai.yaml
+++ b/skills/manage-merge-queue/agents/openai.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 interface:
   display_name: "Manage Merge Queue"
-  short_description: "Review, queue, and land pull requests safely"
-  default_prompt: "Use $manage-merge-queue to review and enqueue my pull request, then coordinate the merge queue."
+  short_description: "Review and deliver pull requests safely"
+  default_prompt: "Use $manage-merge-queue to review my pull request, record deploy intent, and let DeployBot deliver it."
diff --git a/src/agent_merge_queue/__init__.py b/src/agent_merge_queue/__init__.py
index c5e411d..38f4bf3 100644
--- a/src/agent_merge_queue/__init__.py
+++ b/src/agent_merge_queue/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 """DeployBot: a provider-neutral GitHub merge queue for coding agents."""
 
-__version__ = "0.2.2"
+__version__ = "0.2.3"
diff --git a/tests/test_mcp.py b/tests/test_mcp.py
index 8d699ee..8800f64 100644
--- a/tests/test_mcp.py
+++ b/tests/test_mcp.py
@@ -1,12 +1,19 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import importlib.util
 import unittest
 from subprocess import CompletedProcess
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
-from agent_merge_queue.mcp_server import _run
 
+MCP_AVAILABLE = importlib.util.find_spec("mcp") is not None
+if MCP_AVAILABLE:
+    from agent_merge_queue.mcp_server import _run
+else:
+    _run = None
 
+
+@unittest.skipUnless(MCP_AVAILABLE, "the optional MCP extra is not installed")
 class McpTest(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_diagnose_can_return_failed_report_payload(self) -> None:
         completed = CompletedProcess(
diff --git a/tests/test_skill.py b/tests/test_skill.py
index 508c03e..eea4e64 100644
--- a/tests/test_skill.py
+++ b/tests/test_skill.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
 CANONICAL = ROOT / "skills" / "deploybot" / "SKILL.md"
-RELEASE_COMMIT = "2a502a74251e2fbb07e5b4769ce99687235df5ae"
+RELEASE_COMMIT = "c9e3d6976b372ef5bcbb2986b0afd6bb1afe9470"
 CHECKOUT_COMMIT = "9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0"