diff --git a/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Views/Composer.swift b/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Views/Composer.swift
index e92f44c..309d5ab 100644
--- a/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Views/Composer.swift
+++ b/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Views/Composer.swift
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ struct StartChatComposer: View {
                         .font(.subheadline)
                 }
                 Spacer()
-                EffortMenu(effort: $effort)
+                EffortMenu(effort: $effort, controlled: selected?.isNucleicControlled ?? false)
                 Toggle(isOn: $auto) {
                     Label("Auto", systemImage: auto ? "bolt.fill" : "bolt.slash")
                 }
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ struct StartChatComposer: View {
                 TextField("Describe a task…", text: $draft, axis: .vertical)
                     .textFieldStyle(.roundedBorder)
                     .lineLimit(1...5)
-                    .orchestraGlow(active: MobileEfforts.isOrchestra(effort))
+                    .orchestraGlow(active: MobileEfforts.isOrchestra(effort) && (selected?.isNucleicControlled ?? false))
                 Button {
                     if let project = selected {
                         store.startChat(in: project.id, message: draft, effort: effort, auto: auto)
diff --git a/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Views/ProjectsView.swift b/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Views/ProjectsView.swift
index 1200910..57daaa3 100644
--- a/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Views/ProjectsView.swift
+++ b/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Views/ProjectsView.swift
@@ -60,13 +60,13 @@ struct ProjectDetailView: View {
             Section {
                 VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 8) {
                     HStack {
-                        EffortMenu(effort: $effort)
+                        EffortMenu(effort: $effort, controlled: project.isNucleicControlled)
                         Spacer()
                     }
                     HStack(alignment: .bottom, spacing: 8) {
                         TextField("Start a chat in \(project.name)…", text: $draft, axis: .vertical)
                             .textFieldStyle(.roundedBorder).lineLimit(1...4)
-                            .orchestraGlow(active: MobileEfforts.isOrchestra(effort))
+                            .orchestraGlow(active: MobileEfforts.isOrchestra(effort) && project.isNucleicControlled)
                         Button {
                             store.startChat(in: project.id, message: draft, effort: effort)
                             draft = ""
diff --git a/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Views/Theme.swift b/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Views/Theme.swift
index dd433e5..346a34f 100644
--- a/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Views/Theme.swift
+++ b/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Views/Theme.swift
@@ -138,9 +138,20 @@ enum MobileEfforts {
 }
 
 /// A compact effort selector for the remote composers. Orchestra sits below the API levels,
-/// set apart with a sparkles glyph and the purple accent.
+/// set apart with a sparkles glyph and the purple accent. Orchestra is a Nucleic Control
+/// capability, so it's only selectable when the target project is under Control — disabled and
+/// labeled otherwise.
 struct EffortMenu: View {
     @Binding var effort: String
+    /// Whether the target project is under Nucleic Control (gates Orchestra).
+    var controlled: Bool = false
+
+    /// Orchestra only counts as active where it's permitted; a stray selection on a non-Control
+    /// project reads as its underlying level so the trigger never shows Orchestra where it can't run.
+    private var orchestraActive: Bool { controlled && MobileEfforts.isOrchestra(effort) }
+    private var triggerEffort: String {
+        orchestraActive ? effort : (MobileEfforts.isOrchestra(effort) ? MobileEfforts.fallback : effort)
+    }
 
     var body: some View {
         Menu {
@@ -151,15 +162,18 @@ struct EffortMenu: View {
             }
             Divider()
             Button { effort = MobileEfforts.orchestraSentinel } label: {
-                Label("Orchestra", systemImage: MobileEfforts.isOrchestra(effort) ? "checkmark" : "sparkles")
+                Label(
+                    controlled ? "Orchestra" : "Orchestra — Requires Nucleic Control",
+                    systemImage: orchestraActive ? "checkmark" : "sparkles")
             }
+            .disabled(!controlled)
         } label: {
             HStack(spacing: 4) {
-                Image(systemName: MobileEfforts.isOrchestra(effort) ? "sparkles" : "slider.horizontal.3")
-                Text(MobileEfforts.displayName(effort))
+                Image(systemName: orchestraActive ? "sparkles" : "slider.horizontal.3")
+                Text(MobileEfforts.displayName(triggerEffort))
             }
             .font(.caption)
-            .foregroundStyle(MobileEfforts.isOrchestra(effort) ? Palette.orchestra : Palette.accent)
+            .foregroundStyle(orchestraActive ? Palette.orchestra : Palette.accent)
         }
     }
 }