diff --git a/CaptureLabel.gd b/CaptureLabel.gd
index 1c6bd07..c52f8fb 100644
--- a/CaptureLabel.gd
+++ b/CaptureLabel.gd
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 extends Label
 
-# Polls GameState directly, same convention as ResourceCounter/GasCounter,
-# so it stays correct without anyone having to push updates into it. Hidden
+# Polls GameState directly, same convention as ResourceReadout, so it stays
+# correct without anyone having to push updates into it. Hidden
 # entirely when the current planet has no capture points (e.g. no setup
 # resolved for it) rather than showing "0/0".
 
diff --git a/CargoCounter.gd b/CargoCounter.gd
deleted file mode 100644
index bf060f7..0000000
--- a/CargoCounter.gd
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,33 +0,0 @@
-extends NeonNumber
-
-# What the fleet is CARRYING, shown under the banked total (#15, part 2 of
-# #12). Since #14 ore is cargo until the fleet delivers it to the mothership,
-# so without this, mining visibly does nothing - the banked figure above does
-# not move until the fleet flies home, which reads as gathering being broken.
-#
-# Three things separate it from the banked readout, because colour alone is a
-# weak signal on a phone screen in a game that is mostly teal:
-#   - amber rather than ore-teal, the same amber used elsewhere for ore in
-#     transit (the extractor derrick, the hauler route)
-#   - smaller, sitting UNDER the banked figure: subordinate to it, because
-#     this is the number that is not yours yet
-#   - present only while actually carrying something, so an empty hold is not
-#     a permanent zero taking up space next to the real total
-#
-# Reads GameState directly for the same reason ResourceCounter does: it stays
-# correct across the space <-> planet-surface scene swap with nobody having
-# to push updates into it.
-
-const CARGO_GLOW: Color = Color(1.0, 0.78, 0.25)
-const CARGO_CORE: Color = Color(0.22, 0.12, 0.0)
-
-
-func _ready() -> void:
-	glow_color = CARGO_GLOW
-	core_color = CARGO_CORE
-
-
-func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
-	visible = GameState.fleet_cargo > 0
-	if visible:
-		set_amount(GameState.fleet_cargo)
diff --git a/CargoCounter.gd.uid b/CargoCounter.gd.uid
deleted file mode 100644
index dfef251..0000000
--- a/CargoCounter.gd.uid
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-uid://bmrcja23g5oi6
diff --git a/GasCargoCounter.gd b/GasCargoCounter.gd
deleted file mode 100644
index ffa8cf4..0000000
--- a/GasCargoCounter.gd
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-extends "res://GasCounter.gd"
-
-# Fleet-side companion to GasCounter. It keeps the gas bubble glyph instead
-# of recolouring ore, and occupies the same row as banked gas in the HUD.
-
-
-func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
-	visible = GameState.fleet_gas_cargo > 0
-	if visible:
-		set_amount(GameState.fleet_gas_cargo)
diff --git a/GasCargoCounter.gd.uid b/GasCargoCounter.gd.uid
deleted file mode 100644
index a5a329c..0000000
--- a/GasCargoCounter.gd.uid
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-uid://dn5wt1hyaui81
diff --git a/GasCounter.gd b/GasCounter.gd
deleted file mode 100644
index 177ccae..0000000
--- a/GasCounter.gd
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
-extends NeonNumber
-
-# Banked gas companion to the ore counter. Keeping it as the same neon
-# numeral language makes both resources equally legible without implying gas
-# can pay for ore-only construction.
-const GAS_GLOW: Color = Color(0.85, 0.52, 1.0)
-const GAS_CORE: Color = Color(0.2, 0.04, 0.28)
-
-
-func _ready() -> void:
-	glow_color = GAS_GLOW
-	core_color = GAS_CORE
-
-
-func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
-	set_amount(GameState.gas)
-
-
-func _draw() -> void:
-	# Gas keeps the segmented count used by ore, but replaces ore's mining
-	# hex with the three-bubble resource glyph. The label above it now names
-	# the same icon rather than describing a pink recolour of ore.
-	var h: float = digit_height
-	var s: float = h / 60.0
-	for bubble in [[Vector2(21, 36), 13.0], [Vector2(35, 42), 17.0], [Vector2(39, 23), 9.0]]:
-		var ring := PackedVector2Array()
-		for i in range(12):
-			var angle := TAU * float(i) / 12.0
-			ring.append((bubble[0] + Vector2(cos(angle), sin(angle)) * bubble[1]) * s)
-		NeonDraw.draw_glowing_polygon(self, ring, GAS_GLOW, 1.0, GAS_CORE, 0.55 * s)
-	var x: float = h * 1.10
-	var w: float = h * 0.56
-	for digit in str(maxi(amount, 0)):
-		_draw_digit(int(digit), Vector2(x, 0.0), w, h)
-		x += w + digit_gap
diff --git a/GasCounter.gd.uid b/GasCounter.gd.uid
deleted file mode 100644
index 4f2dca2..0000000
--- a/GasCounter.gd.uid
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-uid://wykjjb3qc01h
diff --git a/Main.tscn b/Main.tscn
index df66353..cfa2e8f 100644
--- a/Main.tscn
+++ b/Main.tscn
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=30 format=3]
+[gd_scene load_steps=27 format=3]
 
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://Starfield.gd" id="1"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://Fleet.gd" id="2"]
@@ -15,18 +15,15 @@
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://TouchJoystick.gd" id="13"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://BuildingField.gd" id="14"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://BuildController.gd" id="15"]
-[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://ResourceCounter.gd" id="16"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://ResourceReadout.gd" id="16"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://FormationEditor.gd" id="17"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://NeonNumber.gd" id="19"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://NeonPanel.gd" id="20"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://SkillTreeView.gd" id="21"]
-[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://CargoCounter.gd" id="22"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://TransporterField.gd" id="23"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://ResourceBar.gd" id="24"]
-[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://GasCounter.gd" id="25"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://VesselDeliveryField.gd" id="26"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://ResourceTransferList.gd" id="27"]
-[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://GasCargoCounter.gd" id="28"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://GasBombController.gd" id="29"]
 
 [sub_resource type="ShaderMaterial" id="1"]
@@ -93,16 +90,16 @@ script = ExtResource("12")
 [node name="UI" type="CanvasLayer" parent="."]
 layer = 1
 
-[node name="ResourceCounter" type="Control" parent="UI"]
+[node name="ResourceReadout" type="Control" parent="UI"]
 mouse_filter = 2
 offset_left = 28
 offset_top = 38
-offset_right = 320
-offset_bottom = 82
+offset_right = 696
+offset_bottom = 154
 script = ExtResource("16")
 digit_height = 38.0
 
-[node name="OreCaption" type="Label" parent="UI"]
+[node name="BankCaption" type="Label" parent="UI"]
 mouse_filter = 2
 offset_left = 28
 offset_top = 6
@@ -112,16 +109,7 @@ theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 18
 theme_override_colors/font_color = Color(0.55, 0.78, 0.86, 1)
 text = "BANKED"
 
-[node name="GasCounter" type="Control" parent="UI"]
-mouse_filter = 2
-offset_left = 28
-offset_top = 96
-offset_right = 320
-offset_bottom = 140
-script = ExtResource("25")
-digit_height = 38.0
-
-[node name="GasCaption" type="Label" parent="UI"]
+[node name="FleetCaption" type="Label" parent="UI"]
 mouse_filter = 2
 offset_left = 356
 offset_top = 6
@@ -131,24 +119,6 @@ theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 18
 theme_override_colors/font_color = Color(1, 0.78, 0.25, 1)
 text = "FLEET HOLD"
 
-[node name="CargoCounter" type="Control" parent="UI"]
-mouse_filter = 2
-offset_left = 356
-offset_top = 38
-offset_right = 696
-offset_bottom = 82
-script = ExtResource("22")
-digit_height = 38.0
-
-[node name="GasCargoCounter" type="Control" parent="UI"]
-mouse_filter = 2
-offset_left = 356
-offset_top = 96
-offset_right = 696
-offset_bottom = 140
-script = ExtResource("28")
-digit_height = 38.0
-
 [node name="PlanetNameLabel" type="Label" parent="UI"]
 visible = false
 offset_left = 24
diff --git a/NeonNumber.gd b/NeonNumber.gd
index 162261a..660d8db 100644
--- a/NeonNumber.gd
+++ b/NeonNumber.gd
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ extends Control
 # no place in this look, which is why the digits are strokes rather than
 # text.
 #
-# Used both for the live resource readout (see ResourceCounter, which feeds
+# Used both for the live resource readout (see ResourceReadout, which feeds
 # it from GameState) and for the fixed prices under each build option.
 
 @export var amount: int = 0: set = set_amount
diff --git a/PlanetSurface.tscn b/PlanetSurface.tscn
index 82626a5..3b8bd19 100644
--- a/PlanetSurface.tscn
+++ b/PlanetSurface.tscn
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=17 format=3]
+[gd_scene load_steps=14 format=3]
 
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://GameController.gd" id="1"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://LunarBackground.gd" id="2"]
@@ -7,10 +7,7 @@
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://PlanetSurfaceController.gd" id="5"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://IconButton.gd" id="6"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://TouchJoystick.gd" id="7"]
-[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://ResourceCounter.gd" id="9"]
-[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://GasCounter.gd" id="11"]
-[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://CargoCounter.gd" id="12"]
-[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://GasCargoCounter.gd" id="13"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://ResourceReadout.gd" id="9"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://GasBombController.gd" id="14"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://CaptureLabel.gd" id="15"]
 
@@ -60,16 +57,15 @@ script = ExtResource("5")
 [node name="UI" type="CanvasLayer" parent="."]
 layer = 1
 
-[node name="ResourceCounter" type="Control" parent="UI"]
+[node name="ResourceReadout" type="Control" parent="UI"]
 mouse_filter = 2
 offset_left = 28
 offset_top = 38
-offset_right = 320
-offset_bottom = 82
+offset_right = 696
+offset_bottom = 154
 script = ExtResource("9")
 digit_height = 38.0
-glow_color = Color(0, 0.42, 0.48, 1)
-core_color = Color(0, 0.08, 0.1, 1)
+bright_background = true
 
 [node name="BankCaption" type="Label" parent="UI"]
 mouse_filter = 2
@@ -83,15 +79,6 @@ theme_override_colors/font_outline_color = Color(0.9, 0.95, 0.96, 0.8)
 theme_override_constants/outline_size = 4
 text = "BANKED"
 
-[node name="GasCounter" type="Control" parent="UI"]
-mouse_filter = 2
-offset_left = 28
-offset_top = 96
-offset_right = 320
-offset_bottom = 140
-script = ExtResource("11")
-digit_height = 38.0
-
 [node name="FleetCaption" type="Label" parent="UI"]
 mouse_filter = 2
 offset_left = 356
@@ -104,24 +91,6 @@ theme_override_colors/font_outline_color = Color(0.96, 0.93, 0.82, 0.85)
 theme_override_constants/outline_size = 4
 text = "FLEET HOLD"
 
-[node name="CargoCounter" type="Control" parent="UI"]
-mouse_filter = 2
-offset_left = 356
-offset_top = 38
-offset_right = 696
-offset_bottom = 82
-script = ExtResource("12")
-digit_height = 38.0
-
-[node name="GasCargoCounter" type="Control" parent="UI"]
-mouse_filter = 2
-offset_left = 356
-offset_top = 96
-offset_right = 696
-offset_bottom = 140
-script = ExtResource("13")
-digit_height = 38.0
-
 [node name="PlanetNameLabel" type="Label" parent="UI"]
 offset_left = 24
 offset_top = 156
diff --git a/ResourceCounter.gd b/ResourceCounter.gd
deleted file mode 100644
index 23a8d54..0000000
--- a/ResourceCounter.gd
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-extends NeonNumber
-
-# Top-of-screen ore readout. All the drawing lives in NeonNumber; this only
-# keeps the displayed amount in step with GameState, which it reads directly
-# so it stays correct across the space <-> planet-surface scene swap without
-# anyone having to push updates into it.
-
-
-func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
-	set_amount(GameState.rocks)
diff --git a/ResourceCounter.gd.uid b/ResourceCounter.gd.uid
deleted file mode 100644
index ed6edb5..0000000
--- a/ResourceCounter.gd.uid
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-uid://5u8a3kx3gsh1
diff --git a/ResourceReadout.gd b/ResourceReadout.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cec47fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ResourceReadout.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+class_name ResourceReadout
+extends Control
+
+# Generalizes ResourceCounter/GasCounter/CargoCounter/GasCargoCounter - one
+# hardcoded node plus one script per resource, times two scenes - into one
+# row per GameState.resource_types() entry, built at _ready(). A new
+# resource added to ResourceDefinitions.ORDER/DEFINITIONS gets a HUD row
+# with no scene edit and no new script, the same way ResourceBar and
+# ResourceTransferList already pick up a new resource automatically.
+#
+# Layout mirrors what it replaces: a BANKED column (left) and a FLEET HOLD
+# column (right), one row per resource, each row a resource glyph plus a
+# digit readout. Banked rows are always visible, even at zero (matching
+# ResourceCounter/GasCounter today); fleet rows hide at zero, since that
+# hold isn't the player's yet (see CargoCounter's own note on why).
+
+const FLEET_GLOW: Color = Color(1.0, 0.78, 0.25)
+const FLEET_CORE: Color = Color(0.22, 0.12, 0.0)
+
+const ROW_HEIGHT: float = 58.0
+const COLUMN_GAP: float = 328.0
+const GLYPH_GAP: float = 8.0
+
+@export var digit_height: float = 38.0
+# The bright rocky/gas surfaces need a darker banked glow than deep space
+# for the same contrast reason PlanetSurface.tscn's old ResourceCounter
+# node overrode its colour - set true on the surface-scene instance only.
+@export var bright_background: bool = false
+
+var _banked_numbers: Dictionary = {}
+var _fleet_numbers: Dictionary = {}
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	mouse_filter = Control.MOUSE_FILTER_IGNORE
+	var y: float = 0.0
+	for resource_type in GameState.resource_types():
+		var banked_color: Color = GameState.resource_color(resource_type)
+		if bright_background:
+			banked_color = banked_color.darkened(0.4)
+
+		_add_glyph(resource_type, Vector2(0.0, y))
+		var banked: NeonNumber = _add_number(Vector2(digit_height + GLYPH_GAP, y),
+			banked_color, banked_color.darkened(0.8))
+		_banked_numbers[resource_type] = banked
+
+		_add_glyph(resource_type, Vector2(COLUMN_GAP, y))
+		var fleet: NeonNumber = _add_number(Vector2(COLUMN_GAP + digit_height + GLYPH_GAP, y),
+			FLEET_GLOW, FLEET_CORE)
+		_fleet_numbers[resource_type] = fleet
+
+		y += ROW_HEIGHT
+
+
+func _add_glyph(resource_type: String, at: Vector2) -> void:
+	var glyph: ResourceGlyph = ResourceGlyph.new()
+	glyph.resource_type = resource_type
+	glyph.position = at
+	glyph.size = Vector2(digit_height, digit_height)
+	add_child(glyph)
+
+
+func _add_number(at: Vector2, glow: Color, core: Color) -> NeonNumber:
+	var number: NeonNumber = NeonNumber.new()
+	number.show_icon = false
+	number.position = at
+	number.size = Vector2(0.0, digit_height)
+	number.glow_color = glow
+	number.core_color = core
+	number.digit_height = digit_height
+	add_child(number)
+	return number
+
+
+func banked_number(resource_type: String) -> NeonNumber:
+	return _banked_numbers.get(resource_type)
+
+
+func fleet_number(resource_type: String) -> NeonNumber:
+	return _fleet_numbers.get(resource_type)
+
+
+func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
+	for resource_type in GameState.resource_types():
+		var banked: NeonNumber = _banked_numbers.get(resource_type)
+		if banked != null:
+			banked.set_amount(GameState.banked_resource(resource_type))
+
+		var fleet: NeonNumber = _fleet_numbers.get(resource_type)
+		if fleet == null:
+			continue
+		var held: int = GameState.fleet_resource(resource_type)
+		fleet.visible = held > 0
+		if fleet.visible:
+			fleet.set_amount(held)
diff --git a/tests/_resource_readout_surface_preview.gd b/tests/_resource_readout_surface_preview.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dd7d685
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/_resource_readout_surface_preview.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+extends Node2D
+
+# Preview, not a test. Populates both banked and fleet-held resources so
+# PlanetSurface.tscn's bright_background ResourceReadout row can be checked
+# for contrast against the lunar surface.
+#
+#   bash tests/screenshot.sh res://tests/_resource_readout_surface_preview.tscn /tmp/hud.png 20 720x1280
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	GameState.buildings.clear()
+	GameState.extractors.clear()
+	GameState.rocks = 128
+	GameState.gas = 46
+	GameState.fleet_cargo = 34
+	GameState.fleet_gas_cargo = 17
+	add_child(load("res://PlanetSurface.tscn").instantiate())
diff --git a/tests/_resource_readout_surface_preview.tscn b/tests/_resource_readout_surface_preview.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44e8a2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/_resource_readout_surface_preview.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://tests/_resource_readout_surface_preview.gd" id="1"]
+
+[node name="ResourceReadoutSurfacePreview" type="Node2D"]
+script = ExtResource("1")
diff --git a/tests/test_cargo_readout.gd b/tests/test_cargo_readout.gd
index 02bae96..e24f2cc 100644
--- a/tests/test_cargo_readout.gd
+++ b/tests/test_cargo_readout.gd
@@ -44,8 +44,6 @@ func _initialize() -> void:
 	mothership_id = game_state.add_building(GameState.BUILDING_MOTHERSHIP, Vector2.ZERO)
 	scene = load("res://Main.tscn").instantiate()
 	root.add_child(scene)
-	banked = scene.get_node("UI/ResourceCounter")
-	cargo = scene.get_node("UI/CargoCounter")
 
 
 func _process(delta: float) -> bool:
@@ -54,6 +52,14 @@ func _process(delta: float) -> bool:
 		0:
 			if elapsed < 0.2:
 				return false
+			# ResourceReadout builds its rows in _ready(), which for a -s
+			# entry-point script does not fire synchronously inside
+			# _initialize()'s add_child() - it is deferred to the first
+			# frame. Looking these up here, after the elapsed wait above,
+			# instead of right after add_child(), is what makes them non-null.
+			var readout: Node = scene.get_node("UI/ResourceReadout")
+			banked = readout.banked_number(GameState.RESOURCE_ORE)
+			cargo = readout.fleet_number(GameState.RESOURCE_ORE)
 			# --- 3. nothing carried -> no cargo readout -----------------
 			if cargo.visible:
 				print("TEST_CARGO_READOUT: FAIL (cargo readout showing with an empty hold)")
diff --git a/tests/test_resource_readout.gd b/tests/test_resource_readout.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..121995d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_resource_readout.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+extends SceneTree
+
+# Headless gameplay test: run with
+#   godot --headless -s res://tests/test_resource_readout.gd
+# Verifies ResourceReadout.gd (#49) generalizes ResourceCounter/GasCounter/
+# CargoCounter/GasCargoCounter into one row per GameState.resource_types()
+# entry, in both Main.tscn and PlanetSurface.tscn, with no per-resource
+# code:
+#   1. exactly one banked + one fleet NeonNumber per current resource type,
+#      each correctly reading its own resource's amount
+#   2. fleet rows hide at zero and show once carried, banked rows always show
+#   3. banked and fleet rows are visually distinct (colour, position)
+#   4. the script itself contains no hardcoded resource id - the row count
+#      and mapping come entirely from GameState.resource_types()
+#   5. PlanetSurface.tscn's instance renders too, with its own bright-
+#      background contrast
+#
+# A -s entry-point script can only reach the GameState autoload's CONSTANTS
+# through the bare "GameState" identifier (GameState.RESOURCE_ORE etc.) -
+# calling any of its METHODS that way fails to compile with "Identifier not
+# found: GameState", even from _initialize(). Every other test in this suite
+# already routes method calls through the actual instance
+# (root.get_node("GameState")) instead, and this file follows the same rule.
+
+var game_state: Node
+var main: Node
+var readout: Node
+var stage: int = 0
+var elapsed: float = 0.0
+
+
+func _initialize() -> void:
+	game_state = root.get_node("GameState")
+	game_state.bank_inventory.set_amount(GameState.RESOURCE_ORE, 11)
+	game_state.bank_inventory.set_amount(GameState.RESOURCE_GAS, 4)
+	game_state.fleet_inventory.set_amount(GameState.RESOURCE_ORE, 6)
+	# Gas left at 0 in the fleet hold deliberately, to check the hide-at-zero
+	# rule holds per-resource, not just per-readout.
+
+	# --- 4. no hardcoded resource id in the generalized script ---
+	var source: String = FileAccess.get_file_as_string("res://ResourceReadout.gd")
+	for literal in ['"ore"', '"gas"', 'RESOURCE_ORE', 'RESOURCE_GAS']:
+		if literal in source:
+			return _fail("ResourceReadout.gd hardcodes %s - it must read GameState.resource_types() only" % literal)
+
+	main = load("res://Main.tscn").instantiate()
+	root.add_child(main)
+	readout = main.get_node("UI/ResourceReadout")
+
+
+func _process(delta: float) -> bool:
+	elapsed += delta
+	match stage:
+		0:
+			if elapsed < 0.2:
+				return false
+
+			# --- 1. one row per resource type, correctly mapped ---
+			var types: PackedStringArray = game_state.resource_types()
+			for resource_type in types:
+				var banked: Node = readout.banked_number(resource_type)
+				var fleet: Node = readout.fleet_number(resource_type)
+				if banked == null or fleet == null:
+					return _fail("no readout row for resource '%s'" % resource_type)
+				if banked.amount != game_state.banked_resource(resource_type):
+					return _fail("banked row for '%s' shows %d, bank has %d" % [
+						resource_type, banked.amount, game_state.banked_resource(resource_type)
+					])
+
+			# --- 2. hide-at-zero is per resource ---
+			var ore_fleet: Node = readout.fleet_number(GameState.RESOURCE_ORE)
+			var gas_fleet: Node = readout.fleet_number(GameState.RESOURCE_GAS)
+			if not ore_fleet.visible:
+				return _fail("fleet ore is 6 but its row is hidden")
+			if gas_fleet.visible:
+				return _fail("fleet gas is 0 but its row is showing")
+			if ore_fleet.amount != 6:
+				return _fail("fleet ore row shows %d, hold has 6" % ore_fleet.amount)
+
+			# --- 3. banked and fleet are visually distinct ---
+			var ore_banked: Node = readout.banked_number(GameState.RESOURCE_ORE)
+			if ore_banked.glow_color == ore_fleet.glow_color:
+				return _fail("banked and fleet rows share a colour")
+			if ore_banked.position == ore_fleet.position:
+				return _fail("banked and fleet rows share a position")
+
+			# Depositing gas into the fleet hold should reveal its row live.
+			game_state.fleet_inventory.deposit(GameState.RESOURCE_GAS, 3)
+			elapsed = 0.0
+			stage = 1
+			return false
+		1:
+			if elapsed < 0.2:
+				return false
+			var gas_fleet: Node = readout.fleet_number(GameState.RESOURCE_GAS)
+			if not gas_fleet.visible or gas_fleet.amount != 3:
+				return _fail("fleet gas row did not update live after a deposit (visible=%s amount=%d)" % [
+					gas_fleet.visible, gas_fleet.amount
+				])
+
+			# --- 5. the surface scene's instance also works, bright-background ---
+			main.free()
+			var surface: Node = load("res://PlanetSurface.tscn").instantiate()
+			root.add_child(surface)
+			var surface_readout: Node = surface.get_node("UI/ResourceReadout")
+			if not surface_readout.bright_background:
+				surface.free()
+				return _fail("PlanetSurface's ResourceReadout instance is not set to bright_background")
+			elapsed = 0.0
+			stage = 2
+			return false
+		2:
+			if elapsed < 0.2:
+				return false
+			print("TEST_RESOURCE_READOUT: PASS")
+			quit(0)
+			return true
+	return false
+
+
+func _fail(message: String) -> bool:
+	print("TEST_RESOURCE_READOUT: FAIL (%s)" % message)
+	quit(1)
+	return true