diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate.yml b/.github/workflows/validate.yml
index 14eee78..b486733 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate.yml
@@ -6,11 +6,20 @@ on:
     branches: [ main ]
 
 jobs:
-  readme:
+  validate:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Set up Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.11"
       - name: Ensure scaffold files exist
         run: |
           test -f README.md
           test -f LICENSE
+          test -f .release-versions.env
+      - name: Validate release versions
+        run: bash tests/validate-schemas.sh
+      - name: Validate pipeline files
+        run: bash tests/validate-scripts.sh
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8876d2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+image: ghcr.io/aurekai/aurekai:0.8.0-alpha.4
+
+stages:
+  - validate
+  - audit
+  - pack
+  - gate
+
+doctor-deep:
+  stage: validate
+  script:
+    - akai doctor --deep --json
+
+manifest-verify:
+  stage: validate
+  script:
+    - akai verify --manifest artifact.json --json
+
+model-memory-pack:
+  stage: pack
+  script:
+    - akai pack --tag latest --json
+  artifacts:
+    paths:
+      - artifacts/
+
+sae-audit:
+  stage: audit
+  script:
+    - akai sae audit --model default --json
+
+semantic-cache-bench:
+  stage: audit
+  script:
+    - akai cache bench --queries 100 --json
+
+proof-bundle-export:
+  stage: audit
+  script:
+    - akai proof export --output proof-bundle.tar.gz
+  artifacts:
+    paths:
+      - proof-bundle.tar.gz
+
+release-gate:
+  stage: gate
+  script:
+    - akai release gate --version 0.8.0-alpha.4 --json
+  only:
+    - main
+    - tags
diff --git a/.release-versions.env b/.release-versions.env
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e8f31ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.release-versions.env
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+AUREKAI_VERSION=0.8.0-alpha.4
+AKAI_PACKAGE_VERSION=0.8.0-alpha.4
+AUREKAI_MANIFEST_SCHEMA=aurekai.deploy.v1
+HELM_CHART_VERSION=0.8.1
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 44507ba..a2cac8f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 Aurekai integration surface for Gitlab Ci.
 
-Status: planned
+Status: active
 Type: workflow
 
 ## Core Template Set
diff --git a/docs/quickstart.md b/docs/quickstart.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ce212ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/quickstart.md
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+# Quickstart — aurekai-gitlab-ci
+
+Run Aurekai pipeline templates as GitLab CI stages.
+
+## Usage
+
+Copy `.gitlab-ci.yml` to your repo root, or include it:
+
+```yaml
+include:
+  - project: 'aurekai/aurekai-gitlab-ci'
+    ref: main
+    file: '.gitlab-ci.yml'
+```
+
+## Stages
+
+| Stage | Job | Description |
+|---|---|---|
+| validate | doctor-deep | `akai doctor --deep` |
+| validate | manifest-verify | Manifest schema check |
+| pack | model-memory-pack | Pack model artifacts |
+| audit | sae-audit | SAE audit |
+| audit | semantic-cache-bench | Cache benchmark |
+| audit | proof-bundle-export | Export proof bundle |
+| gate | release-gate | Release gate check |
+
+## Validate Locally
+
+```bash
+bash tests/validate-schemas.sh
+bash tests/validate-scripts.sh
+```
diff --git a/tests/validate-schemas.sh b/tests/validate-schemas.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..527694b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/validate-schemas.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+ENV_FILE="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)/.release-versions.env"
+echo "Checking .release-versions.env..."
+test -f "$ENV_FILE" || { echo "MISSING: $ENV_FILE"; exit 1; }
+for key in AUREKAI_VERSION AKAI_PACKAGE_VERSION AUREKAI_MANIFEST_SCHEMA HELM_CHART_VERSION; do
+  if grep -q "^${key}=" "$ENV_FILE"; then
+    echo "  v $key"
+  else
+    echo "  x $key missing"; exit 1
+  fi
+done
+echo; echo "All schema checks passed."
diff --git a/tests/validate-scripts.sh b/tests/validate-scripts.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..c92d5bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/validate-scripts.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")/.." && pwd)"
+echo "Validating .gitlab-ci.yml..."
+python3 -c "import yaml,sys; yaml.safe_load(open(sys.argv[1]))" "$ROOT/.gitlab-ci.yml"
+echo "  v .gitlab-ci.yml"
+echo; echo "GitLab CI validation passed."