diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 83ee3bd..8c0e0a0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -149,14 +149,18 @@ Não imprime secrets.
 
 ## Launcher (agente fala primeiro)
 
-O bootstrap instala `~/.local/bin/hermes-client-onboarding`, que abre o TUI com kickoff automático:
+O bootstrap instala `~/.local/bin/hermes-client-onboarding`:
 
 ```bash
 hermes-client-onboarding
 ```
 
-Isso usa `hermes chat --tui -s hermes-client-onboarding -q "…"` — o Hermes **envia a primeira mensagem sozinho** e continua interativo.  
-`hermes chat -s …` sem `-q` / sem launcher espera o usuário falar primeiro.
+Por padrão usa **CLI clássico + injeção automática** da primeira mensagem (PTY). O TUI nativo do Hermes tem race no startup-query (~4s) e costuma ficar mudo — por isso não é o default.
+
+```bash
+# TUI (opcional, menos confiável para auto-start)
+HERMES_ONBOARD_USE_TUI=1 hermes-client-onboarding
+```
 
 ## Licença
 
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index 4435576..83d02e8 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@ copy_tree() {
   if [[ -f "$dest/scripts/start-onboarding.sh" ]]; then
     chmod +x "$dest/scripts/start-onboarding.sh"
   fi
+  if [[ -f "$dest/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py" ]]; then
+    chmod +x "$dest/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py"
+  fi
 }
 
 fetch_skill_to() {
@@ -119,8 +122,10 @@ fetch_skill_to() {
   curl -fsSL "${base}/skill/${SKILL_NAME}/references/troubleshooting.md" -o "$dest/references/troubleshooting.md"
   curl -fsSL "${base}/skill/${SKILL_NAME}/scripts/apply-core-config.sh" -o "$dest/scripts/apply-core-config.sh"
   curl -fsSL "${base}/skill/${SKILL_NAME}/scripts/start-onboarding.sh" -o "$dest/scripts/start-onboarding.sh" || true
+  curl -fsSL "${base}/skill/${SKILL_NAME}/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py" -o "$dest/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py" || true
   chmod +x "$dest/scripts/apply-core-config.sh"
   [[ -f "$dest/scripts/start-onboarding.sh" ]] && chmod +x "$dest/scripts/start-onboarding.sh"
+  [[ -f "$dest/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py" ]] && chmod +x "$dest/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py"
   [[ -s "$dest/SKILL.md" ]] || die "failed to download SKILL.md from $base"
 }
 
@@ -142,13 +147,18 @@ install_skill() {
   copy_tree "$staging" "$hermes_dest"
   log "Skill installed for Hermes → $hermes_dest"
 
-  # Launcher: auto-starts Phase 1 (agent speaks first)
-  mkdir -p "${HOME}/.local/bin"
+  # Launcher: auto-starts Phase 1 (agent speaks first via CLI PTY inject)
+  mkdir -p "${HOME}/.local/bin" "${HOME}/.local/share/hermes-client-onboarding"
   if [[ -f "$staging/scripts/start-onboarding.sh" ]]; then
     cp -f "$staging/scripts/start-onboarding.sh" "${HOME}/.local/bin/hermes-client-onboarding"
     chmod +x "${HOME}/.local/bin/hermes-client-onboarding"
     log "Launcher → ~/.local/bin/hermes-client-onboarding (agent fala primeiro)"
   fi
+  if [[ -f "$staging/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py" ]]; then
+    cp -f "$staging/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py" "${HOME}/.local/share/hermes-client-onboarding/auto_kickoff_cli.py"
+    cp -f "$staging/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py" "${HOME}/.hermes/skills/${SKILL_NAME}/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py"
+    chmod +x "${HOME}/.local/share/hermes-client-onboarding/auto_kickoff_cli.py"
+  fi
 
   # Codex / agents (optional)
   if [[ -d "${HOME}/.codex" ]] || need_cmd codex; then
@@ -210,21 +220,26 @@ pick_conductor() {
 }
 
 launch_hermes_onboarding() {
-  # Auto-start: TUI + -q submits first turn; session stays interactive.
   export HERMES_ONBOARD_KICKOFF="$KICKOFF_MSG"
+  export HERMES_ONBOARD_SKILL="$SKILL_NAME"
+  export HERMES_TUI_QUERY="$KICKOFF_MSG"
+  export HERMES_TUI_SKILLS="$SKILL_NAME"
   if [[ -x "${HOME}/.local/bin/hermes-client-onboarding" ]]; then
     if [[ -r /dev/tty ]]; then
-      exec "${HOME}/.local/bin/hermes-client-onboarding" </dev/tty
+      exec "${HOME}/.local/bin/hermes-client-onboarding" </dev/tty >/dev/tty 2>/dev/tty
     else
       exec "${HOME}/.local/bin/hermes-client-onboarding"
     fi
   fi
-  # Fallback without launcher binary (-q only works on `hermes chat`)
-  if [[ -r /dev/tty ]]; then
-    exec hermes chat --tui -s "$SKILL_NAME" -q "$KICKOFF_MSG" </dev/tty
-  else
-    exec hermes chat --tui -s "$SKILL_NAME" -q "$KICKOFF_MSG"
+  # Fallback: classic CLI + PTY inject script if present
+  local auto_py="${HOME}/.hermes/skills/${SKILL_NAME}/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py"
+  if [[ -f "$auto_py" ]] && command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    if [[ -r /dev/tty ]]; then
+      exec python3 "$auto_py" </dev/tty >/dev/tty 2>/dev/tty
+    fi
+    exec python3 "$auto_py"
   fi
+  die "launcher missing — re-run install or: hermes chat --cli -s ${SKILL_NAME}"
 }
 
 launch_conductor() {
diff --git a/skill/hermes-client-onboarding/SKILL.md b/skill/hermes-client-onboarding/SKILL.md
index 775765d..69c271b 100644
--- a/skill/hermes-client-onboarding/SKILL.md
+++ b/skill/hermes-client-onboarding/SKILL.md
@@ -78,11 +78,11 @@ Preferred launch (agent auto-starts):
 
 ```bash
 hermes-client-onboarding
-# or:
-hermes chat --tui -s hermes-client-onboarding -q "Inicie AGORA o onboarding…"
+# uses classic CLI + auto-kickoff inject (reliable)
+# TUI (optional): HERMES_ONBOARD_USE_TUI=1 hermes-client-onboarding
 ```
 
-Plain `hermes chat -s hermes-client-onboarding` without `-q` waits for user input — avoid that for demos.
+Plain `hermes chat -s hermes-client-onboarding` without kickoff waits for user input — avoid that for demos.
 
 ### Phase 1 — Context & Goals
 
diff --git a/skill/hermes-client-onboarding/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py b/skill/hermes-client-onboarding/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..c81063c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skill/hermes-client-onboarding/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Spawn `hermes chat --cli -s <skill>` and inject the kickoff as first user message.
+
+Hermes only runs a model turn after a user message. The TUI startup-query path
+races session creation (~4s) and often silently skips. This classic-CLI path
+waits for a ready prompt, sends the kickoff once, then hands the TTY to the user.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import pty
+import select
+import sys
+import time
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    skill = os.environ.get("HERMES_ONBOARD_SKILL", "hermes-client-onboarding")
+    kickoff = os.environ.get(
+        "HERMES_ONBOARD_KICKOFF",
+        "Inicie AGORA o onboarding de cliente Hermes. Siga a skill "
+        "hermes-client-onboarding: pre-flight em silêncio e abra a Phase 1 "
+        "com a primeira pergunta. Você fala primeiro. Português brasileiro.",
+    )
+    if not kickoff.endswith("\n"):
+        kickoff += "\n"
+
+    argv = ["hermes", "chat", "--cli", "-s", skill]
+    # Extra args after --
+    if len(sys.argv) > 1:
+        argv.extend(sys.argv[1:])
+
+    pid, master = pty.fork()
+    if pid == 0:
+        os.execvp(argv[0], argv)
+
+    # Parent: relay I/O; inject kickoff once after session looks ready.
+    sent = False
+    buf = b""
+    start = time.time()
+    inject_after = 1.5  # min wait for banner
+    deadline = start + 45.0
+
+    try:
+        while True:
+            timeout = 0.2
+            r, _, _ = select.select([master, sys.stdin], [], [], timeout)
+            now = time.time()
+
+            if master in r:
+                try:
+                    data = os.read(master, 8192)
+                except OSError:
+                    data = b""
+                if not data:
+                    break
+                os.write(sys.stdout.fileno(), data)
+                buf += data
+                if len(buf) > 20000:
+                    buf = buf[-10000:]
+
+            if sys.stdin in r:
+                try:
+                    data = os.read(sys.stdin.fileno(), 8192)
+                except OSError:
+                    data = b""
+                if not data:
+                    # stdin closed — keep agent until it exits
+                    pass
+                else:
+                    os.write(master, data)
+
+            if not sent and now >= start + inject_after:
+                lower = buf.lower()
+                ready_markers = (
+                    b"ready",
+                    b"session:",
+                    b"try ",
+                    b"welcome",
+                    b"type your message",
+                    b"\n> ",
+                    b"\n❯",
+                    b"\nprompt",
+                )
+                looks_ready = any(m in lower for m in ready_markers)
+                timed = now >= start + 4.0  # hard fallback inject
+                if looks_ready or timed:
+                    # Small settle so status line finishes drawing
+                    time.sleep(0.35)
+                    os.write(master, kickoff.encode("utf-8", errors="replace"))
+                    sent = True
+
+            if not sent and now > deadline:
+                # Last resort
+                os.write(master, kickoff.encode("utf-8", errors="replace"))
+                sent = True
+
+            # Reap child
+            wpid, status = os.waitpid(pid, os.WNOHANG)
+            if wpid == pid:
+                if os.WIFEXITED(status):
+                    return os.WEXITSTATUS(status)
+                return 1
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        try:
+            os.kill(pid, 2)
+        except ProcessLookupError:
+            pass
+        return 130
+    finally:
+        try:
+            os.close(master)
+        except OSError:
+            pass
+
+    # Blocking wait if loop broke on EOF from master
+    try:
+        _, status = os.waitpid(pid, 0)
+        if os.WIFEXITED(status):
+            return os.WEXITSTATUS(status)
+    except ChildProcessError:
+        pass
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())
diff --git a/skill/hermes-client-onboarding/scripts/start-onboarding.sh b/skill/hermes-client-onboarding/scripts/start-onboarding.sh
index 5b1f017..e90f7b1 100755
--- a/skill/hermes-client-onboarding/scripts/start-onboarding.sh
+++ b/skill/hermes-client-onboarding/scripts/start-onboarding.sh
@@ -1,23 +1,58 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
-# Launch Hermes with hermes-client-onboarding and auto-start Phase 1
-# (agent speaks first — does not wait for the user to say "oi").
+# Launch Hermes with hermes-client-onboarding; agent speaks first (Phase 1).
+#
+# Default: classic CLI + PTY auto-kickoff (reliable).
+# Optional: HERMES_ONBOARD_USE_TUI=1 for Ink TUI (env HERMES_TUI_QUERY; may race).
 set -euo pipefail
 
 export PATH="${HOME}/.local/bin:/usr/local/bin:${PATH}"
 
 SKILL_NAME="${HERMES_ONBOARD_SKILL:-hermes-client-onboarding}"
-KICKOFF="${HERMES_ONBOARD_KICKOFF:-Inicie AGORA o onboarding de cliente Hermes. Siga a skill hermes-client-onboarding: execute o pre-flight em silêncio e abra a Phase 1 fazendo a primeira pergunta ao usuário. Você fala primeiro — não espere eu dizer oi ou começar.}"
+KICKOFF="${HERMES_ONBOARD_KICKOFF:-Inicie AGORA o onboarding de cliente Hermes. Siga a skill hermes-client-onboarding: execute o pre-flight em silêncio e abra a Phase 1 fazendo a primeira pergunta ao usuário. Você fala primeiro — não espere eu dizer oi ou começar. Português brasileiro.}"
+
+export HERMES_ONBOARD_SKILL="$SKILL_NAME"
+export HERMES_ONBOARD_KICKOFF="$KICKOFF"
+# TUI path (also set so HERMES_TUI=1 launches pick up kickoff)
+export HERMES_TUI_SKILLS="$SKILL_NAME"
+export HERMES_TUI_QUERY="$KICKOFF"
 
 if ! command -v hermes >/dev/null 2>&1; then
   echo "error: hermes not on PATH" >&2
   exit 1
 fi
 
-# Must use `hermes chat` subcommand: -q is not a top-level flag.
-# With --tui, -q becomes HERMES_TUI_QUERY — first turn auto-submits, session stays interactive.
-if [[ -t 0 && -t 1 ]]; then
-  exec hermes chat --tui -s "$SKILL_NAME" -q "$KICKOFF" "$@"
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+# When installed as ~/.local/bin/hermes-client-onboarding, companion lives with skill
+AUTO_PY=""
+for candidate in \
+  "${SCRIPT_DIR}/auto_kickoff_cli.py" \
+  "${HOME}/.hermes/skills/${SKILL_NAME}/scripts/auto_kickoff_cli.py" \
+  "${HOME}/.local/share/hermes-client-onboarding/auto_kickoff_cli.py"
+do
+  if [[ -f "$candidate" ]]; then
+    AUTO_PY="$candidate"
+    break
+  fi
+done
+
+use_tui="${HERMES_ONBOARD_USE_TUI:-0}"
+
+if [[ "$use_tui" == "1" ]]; then
+  # Explicit env + --query (TUI maps -q → HERMES_TUI_QUERY; keep both)
+  if [[ -r /dev/tty ]]; then
+    exec hermes chat --tui -s "$SKILL_NAME" --query "$KICKOFF" </dev/tty
+  fi
+  exec hermes chat --tui -s "$SKILL_NAME" --query "$KICKOFF"
 fi
 
-# Non-TTY fallback (CI/scripts): one-shot only
+# Reliable path: classic CLI + inject first user message
+if [[ -n "$AUTO_PY" ]] && command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  if [[ -r /dev/tty ]]; then
+    exec python3 "$AUTO_PY" "$@" </dev/tty >/dev/tty 2>/dev/tty
+  fi
+  exec python3 "$AUTO_PY" "$@"
+fi
+
+# Last resort: one-shot (not interactive after)
+echo "warn: auto_kickoff_cli.py missing — running one-shot kickoff only" >&2
 exec hermes chat -s "$SKILL_NAME" -Q -q "$KICKOFF" "$@"