diff --git a/src/creditAttribution.test.mjs b/src/creditAttribution.test.mjs
index 3032a25fe..2b84f7d19 100644
--- a/src/creditAttribution.test.mjs
+++ b/src/creditAttribution.test.mjs
@@ -299,9 +299,26 @@ function resolve(candidates, prop, width, label) {
   return winner;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Inline a custom property declared once, on a bare :root, so an offset written
+ * through it evaluates to the length it stands for. Anything else stays a
+ * var() for toPx to vet.
+ */
+function inlineRootVars(value) {
+  const inlined = value.replace(/var\((--[\w-]+)\)/g, (match, name) => {
+    const declarations = RULES.flatMap((rule) =>
+      rule.decls.filter((decl) => decl.prop === name).map((decl) => ({ rule, decl })));
+    if (declarations.length !== 1) return match;
+    const [{ rule, decl }] = declarations;
+    if (rule.media.length || rule.parts.join() !== ':root') return match;
+    return decl.value.replace(/^calc\((.*)\)$/, '$1');
+  });
+  return inlined === value || /^calc\(/.test(inlined) ? inlined : `calc(${inlined})`;
+}
+
 /** Evaluate a length. Anything the model cannot resolve exactly fails loudly. */
 function toPx(value, viewportHeight, where) {
-  const trimmed = value.trim();
+  const trimmed = inlineRootVars(value.trim());
   const inner = /^calc\(/.test(trimmed) ? trimmed.slice(5, -1) : trimmed;
   assert.doesNotMatch(inner, /\bcalc\(/, `nested calc() in ${where}: "${value}"`);
   assert.doesNotMatch(inner, /\b(min|max|clamp|env|attr|round|mod)\(/, `unmodelled function in ${where}: "${value}"`);
@@ -579,7 +596,7 @@ test('the dock anchor changes at 720px — the 2vh cancellation is band-limited'
   assert.equal(resolve(['#command-dock'], 'bottom', 800, 'dock').decl.value, '2vh');
   assert.equal(resolve(['#command-dock'], 'bottom', 720, 'dock').decl.value, '8px');
   assert.equal(
-    resolve(CREDIT_SELECTORS, 'bottom', 720, 'credit').decl.value,
+    inlineRootVars(resolve(CREDIT_SELECTORS, 'bottom', 720, 'credit').decl.value),
     'calc(2vh + 5rem)',
     'the credit keeps its 2vh base below 720px — that asymmetry is the whole hazard',
   );
diff --git a/src/ui/cyberTheme.test.mjs b/src/ui/cyberTheme.test.mjs
index 75746b6e3..7328b1352 100644
--- a/src/ui/cyberTheme.test.mjs
+++ b/src/ui/cyberTheme.test.mjs
@@ -429,24 +429,48 @@ test('Cyber dock pins escape the tray mask and its decoration overrides the lega
   assert.match(decoration, /pointer-events:\s*none;/);
 });
 
-test('Cyber lower-left telemetry tracks the credit anchor with clearance for its logo row', () => {
-  const telemetry = cssRuleBody(
-    cyberStyles,
-    /#intel-hud\[data-variant='cyber'\] \.hud-bottom-left/,
-  );
-  const offset = telemetry.match(/bottom:\s*calc\(2vh \+ ([\d.]+)rem\);/);
-  assert.ok(offset, 'telemetry must retain the attribution viewport anchor');
+test('lower-left telemetry tracks the credit anchor with clearance for its logo row', () => {
   const credits = read('./styles/command-dock-trays.css');
+  const anchor = cssRuleBody(credits, /:root/);
+  assert.match(anchor, /--gev-credits-bottom:\s*calc\(2vh \+ 5rem\);/);
+  const reserve = anchor.match(/--gev-credits-reserve:\s*([\d.]+)rem;/);
+  assert.ok(
+    Number(reserve?.[1]) >= 2.75,
+    'reserve the 28px logo row, baseline descent and 12px clearance at the 16px root size',
+  );
   const creditOffsets = [
-    ...credits.matchAll(
-      /#cesium-credits\s*\{[^}]*bottom:\s*calc\(2vh \+ ([\d.]+)rem\);/g,
-    ),
+    ...credits.matchAll(/#cesium-credits\s*\{[^}]*bottom:\s*([^;]+);/g),
   ];
   assert.ok(creditOffsets.length > 0);
   for (const credit of creditOffsets) {
-    assert.ok(
-      Number(offset[1]) - Number(credit[1]) >= 2.75,
-      'reserve the 28px logo row, baseline descent and 12px clearance at the 16px root size',
+    assert.equal(credit[1], 'var(--gev-credits-bottom)');
+  }
+  const reserved =
+    /bottom:\s*calc\(var\(--gev-credits-bottom\) \+ var\(--gev-credits-reserve\)\);/;
+  assert.match(
+    cssRuleBody(cyberStyles, /#intel-hud\[data-variant='cyber'\] \.hud-bottom-left/),
+    reserved,
+  );
+  assert.match(
+    cssRuleBody(
+      credits,
+      /#intel-hud\[data-variant='tactical'\] \.hud-bottom-left,\s*#intel-hud\[data-variant='minimal'\] \.hud-bottom-left/,
+    ),
+    reserved,
+  );
+  // Cockpit's corner offset outranks the layouts' rules, so it reserves too.
+  assert.match(
+    read('./styles/cockpit.css'),
+    new RegExp(
+      `\\nbody\\.cockpit-mode #intel-hud \\.hud-bottom-left\\s*\\{[^}]*${reserved.source}`,
+    ),
+  );
+  // One rule owns each layout's lower-left offset; import order must not decide it.
+  for (const file of ['overlays.css', 'command-dock.css', 'command-dock-compact.css']) {
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      read(`./styles/${file}`),
+      /\[data-variant='\w+'\] \.hud-bottom-left\s*\{[^}]*bottom:/,
+      file,
     );
   }
   assert.doesNotMatch(cyberStyles, /\.hud-bottom-left\s*\{\s*bottom:\s*60px;/);
diff --git a/src/ui/styles/cockpit.css b/src/ui/styles/cockpit.css
index d7ad845b6..72dfea4cd 100644
--- a/src/ui/styles/cockpit.css
+++ b/src/ui/styles/cockpit.css
@@ -2059,10 +2059,16 @@ body.cockpit-mode #intel-hud .hud-top-left,
 body.cockpit-mode #intel-hud .hud-top-right {
   top: clamp(104px, 13vh, 138px);
 }
-body.cockpit-mode #intel-hud .hud-bottom-left,
 body.cockpit-mode #intel-hud .hud-bottom-right {
   bottom: clamp(84px, 11vh, 118px);
 }
+/* The lower-left readout sits over the attribution row, which keeps its map
+   position in Cockpit. Scaling from its bottom edge keeps it on that reserve
+   and below the context window's rail. */
+body.cockpit-mode #intel-hud .hud-bottom-left {
+  bottom: calc(var(--gev-credits-bottom) + var(--gev-credits-reserve));
+  transform-origin: left bottom;
+}
 body.cockpit-mode #intel-hud .hud-summary-wrap {
   max-width: min(34vw, 380px);
 }
diff --git a/src/ui/styles/command-dock-compact.css b/src/ui/styles/command-dock-compact.css
index 146128d07..40b4aaf36 100644
--- a/src/ui/styles/command-dock-compact.css
+++ b/src/ui/styles/command-dock-compact.css
@@ -380,10 +380,6 @@ body:not(.ui-clean-view):not(.recording-mode) #cesium-credits {
   bottom: calc(2vh + 4.7rem);
 }
 
-#intel-hud[data-variant='minimal'] .hud-bottom-left {
-  bottom: calc(2vh + 5.4rem);
-}
-
 @media (max-width: 900px) {
   #command-dock #location-bar .location-toolbar-label {
     overflow: hidden;
diff --git a/src/ui/styles/command-dock-trays.css b/src/ui/styles/command-dock-trays.css
index 65d7687b2..342ac5054 100644
--- a/src/ui/styles/command-dock-trays.css
+++ b/src/ui/styles/command-dock-trays.css
@@ -448,6 +448,14 @@
   letter-spacing: 0.035rem;
 }
 
+/* The attribution row's anchor above the command dock. HUD readouts over the
+   row sit the reserve above it: the 28px logo row, baseline descent and 12px
+   clearance at the 16px root size. */
+:root {
+  --gev-credits-bottom: calc(2vh + 5rem);
+  --gev-credits-reserve: 2.75rem;
+}
+
 /* Keep the complete inline attribution row above the command dock. */
 body:not(.ui-clean-view):not(.recording-mode) #cesium-credits,
 body:not(.ui-clean-view):not(.recording-mode):has(
@@ -455,21 +463,20 @@ body:not(.ui-clean-view):not(.recording-mode):has(
   )
   #cesium-credits {
   right: auto;
-  bottom: calc(2vh + 5rem);
+  bottom: var(--gev-credits-bottom);
   left: 1.5rem;
   width: auto !important;
   max-width: calc(100vw - 3rem);
   text-align: left;
 }
 
-#intel-hud[data-variant='tactical'] .hud-bottom-left,
 #intel-hud[data-variant='tactical'] .hud-bottom-right {
   bottom: calc(2vh + 6.5rem);
 }
 
-/* Clear the attribution row, whose logo stands about 1.75rem tall. */
+#intel-hud[data-variant='tactical'] .hud-bottom-left,
 #intel-hud[data-variant='minimal'] .hud-bottom-left {
-  bottom: calc(2vh + 7.25rem);
+  bottom: calc(var(--gev-credits-bottom) + var(--gev-credits-reserve));
 }
 
 @media (max-width: 900px) {
@@ -478,7 +485,7 @@ body:not(.ui-clean-view):not(.recording-mode):has(
       #intel-hud[data-variant='minimal'].active
     )
     #cesium-credits {
-    bottom: calc(2vh + 5rem);
+    bottom: var(--gev-credits-bottom);
     left: 0.75rem;
     max-width: calc(100vw - 1.5rem);
   }
diff --git a/src/ui/styles/command-dock.css b/src/ui/styles/command-dock.css
index 928349dde..5f8c0bcb4 100644
--- a/src/ui/styles/command-dock.css
+++ b/src/ui/styles/command-dock.css
@@ -243,10 +243,6 @@ body.recording-mode #cesium-credits {
   left: 36px;
 }
 
-#intel-hud[data-variant='minimal'] .hud-bottom-left {
-  bottom: calc(2vh + 7.5rem);
-}
-
 @media (max-width: 980px) {
   #command-dock {
     grid-template-areas:
@@ -273,10 +269,6 @@ body.recording-mode #cesium-credits {
   body:not(.ui-clean-view):not(.recording-mode) #cesium-credits {
     bottom: calc(2vh + 9.5rem);
   }
-
-  #intel-hud[data-variant='minimal'] .hud-bottom-left {
-    bottom: calc(2vh + 12rem);
-  }
 }
 
 @media (max-width: 720px) {
diff --git a/src/ui/styles/cyber.css b/src/ui/styles/cyber.css
index 4aaf5b1c2..2401cbc28 100644
--- a/src/ui/styles/cyber.css
+++ b/src/ui/styles/cyber.css
@@ -1605,9 +1605,9 @@
 }
 
 /* Attribution's logo row extends above its text baseline. Reserve the whole
-   row plus a gap above the dock-relative 2vh + 5rem credit position. */
+   row plus a gap above the dock-relative credit anchor. */
 #intel-hud[data-variant='cyber'] .hud-bottom-left {
-  bottom: calc(2vh + 7.75rem);
+  bottom: calc(var(--gev-credits-bottom) + var(--gev-credits-reserve));
 }
 
 #intel-hud[data-variant='cyber'] .hud-corner {
diff --git a/src/ui/styles/overlays.css b/src/ui/styles/overlays.css
index f0b6aace4..8379f6efc 100644
--- a/src/ui/styles/overlays.css
+++ b/src/ui/styles/overlays.css
@@ -306,10 +306,6 @@
   top: 88px;
 }
 
-#intel-hud[data-variant='minimal'] .hud-bottom-left {
-  bottom: 12vh;
-}
-
 #intel-hud[data-variant='minimal'] .hud-summary-wrap {
   max-width: 280px;
 }