diff --git a/AUTHORS b/AUTHORS
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..846a4f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/AUTHORS
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Scott "R00tPiG Security" Lindsey <rootpig@georgelambert.org> (rootpig) — owner
diff --git a/OWNER.md b/OWNER.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7f075e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OWNER.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Repository owner
+
+**Owner / credited author:** Scott "R00tPiG Security" Lindsey (`rootpig`)
+
+Forgejo: https://git.georgelambert.org/rootpig
+
+This repository is owned by **rootpig** for Verae Inc. server maintenance,
+deployment scripting, and related operations work.
+
+Co-contributors may appear in git history; ownership and ops credit belong to rootpig.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 81a8c06..e845621 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # verae-keep
 
+[![standard-readme compliant](https://img.shields.io/badge/readme%20style-standard-brightgreen.svg?style=flat-square)](https://github.com/RichardLitt/standard-readme)
+
 Host keep-alive for Verae workers. Restarts a unit that crashed **unless** the operator console paused or stopped it.
 
 **Forgejo:** https://git.georgelambert.org/marchon/verae-keep
@@ -44,3 +46,25 @@ Units: NATS (observe only), job-poller, webhook-deliver, archive-aggregator, arc
 - `GET /health` `GET /status`
 - `POST /intent/:id` `{"state":"pause|stop|run"}`
 - `POST /reconcile`
+
+## Install
+
+```sh
+git clone ssh://git@git.georgelambert.org:2223/marchon/verae-keep.git
+cd verae-keep
+```
+
+## Usage
+
+```sh
+npm install
+npm start
+```
+
+## Contributing
+
+Questions: open an issue at https://git.georgelambert.org/marchon/verae-keep/issues. Pull requests are accepted.
+
+## License
+
+UNLICENSED © George Lambert