diff --git a/commands/gsd/execute-phase.md b/commands/gsd/execute-phase.md
index a95dfd0bf..4f5d604ac 100644
--- a/commands/gsd/execute-phase.md
+++ b/commands/gsd/execute-phase.md
@@ -230,12 +230,22 @@ After user runs /gsd:plan-phase {Z} --gaps:
 <wave_execution>
 **Parallel spawning:**
 
-Spawn all plans in a wave with a single message containing multiple Task calls:
+Before spawning, read file contents. The `@` syntax does not work across Task() boundaries.
+
+```bash
+# Read each plan and STATE.md
+PLAN_01_CONTENT=$(cat "{plan_01_path}")
+PLAN_02_CONTENT=$(cat "{plan_02_path}")
+PLAN_03_CONTENT=$(cat "{plan_03_path}")
+STATE_CONTENT=$(cat .planning/STATE.md)
+```
+
+Spawn all plans in a wave with a single message containing multiple Task calls, with inlined content:
 
 ```
-Task(prompt="Execute plan at {plan_01_path}\n\nPlan: @{plan_01_path}\nProject state: @.planning/STATE.md", subagent_type="gsd-executor")
-Task(prompt="Execute plan at {plan_02_path}\n\nPlan: @{plan_02_path}\nProject state: @.planning/STATE.md", subagent_type="gsd-executor")
-Task(prompt="Execute plan at {plan_03_path}\n\nPlan: @{plan_03_path}\nProject state: @.planning/STATE.md", subagent_type="gsd-executor")
+Task(prompt="Execute plan at {plan_01_path}\n\nPlan:\n{plan_01_content}\n\nProject state:\n{state_content}", subagent_type="gsd-executor")
+Task(prompt="Execute plan at {plan_02_path}\n\nPlan:\n{plan_02_content}\n\nProject state:\n{state_content}", subagent_type="gsd-executor")
+Task(prompt="Execute plan at {plan_03_path}\n\nPlan:\n{plan_03_content}\n\nProject state:\n{state_content}", subagent_type="gsd-executor")
 ```
 
 All three run in parallel. Task tool blocks until all complete.
diff --git a/commands/gsd/plan-phase.md b/commands/gsd/plan-phase.md
index 9775b24d8..a3c39a11b 100644
--- a/commands/gsd/plan-phase.md
+++ b/commands/gsd/plan-phase.md
@@ -205,21 +205,23 @@ ls "${PHASE_DIR}"/*-PLAN.md 2>/dev/null
 
 **If exists:** Offer: 1) Continue planning (add more plans), 2) View existing, 3) Replan from scratch. Wait for response.
 
-## 7. Gather Context Paths
+## 7. Read Context Files
 
-Identify context files for the planner agent:
+Read and store context file contents for the planner agent. The `@` syntax does not work across Task() boundaries - content must be inlined.
 
 ```bash
-# Required
-STATE=.planning/STATE.md
-ROADMAP=.planning/ROADMAP.md
-REQUIREMENTS=.planning/REQUIREMENTS.md
+# Read required files
+STATE_CONTENT=$(cat .planning/STATE.md)
+ROADMAP_CONTENT=$(cat .planning/ROADMAP.md)
 
-# Optional (created by earlier steps or commands)
-CONTEXT="${PHASE_DIR}/${PHASE}-CONTEXT.md"
-RESEARCH="${PHASE_DIR}/${PHASE}-RESEARCH.md"
-VERIFICATION="${PHASE_DIR}/${PHASE}-VERIFICATION.md"
-UAT="${PHASE_DIR}/${PHASE}-UAT.md"
+# Read optional files (empty string if missing)
+REQUIREMENTS_CONTENT=$(cat .planning/REQUIREMENTS.md 2>/dev/null)
+CONTEXT_CONTENT=$(cat "${PHASE_DIR}"/*-CONTEXT.md 2>/dev/null)
+RESEARCH_CONTENT=$(cat "${PHASE_DIR}"/*-RESEARCH.md 2>/dev/null)
+
+# Gap closure files (only if --gaps mode)
+VERIFICATION_CONTENT=$(cat "${PHASE_DIR}"/*-VERIFICATION.md 2>/dev/null)
+UAT_CONTENT=$(cat "${PHASE_DIR}"/*-UAT.md 2>/dev/null)
 ```
 
 ## 8. Spawn gsd-planner Agent
@@ -233,7 +235,7 @@ Display stage banner:
 ◆ Spawning planner...
 ```
 
-Fill prompt and spawn:
+Fill prompt with inlined content and spawn:
 
 ```markdown
 <planning_context>
@@ -242,23 +244,23 @@ Fill prompt and spawn:
 **Mode:** {standard | gap_closure}
 
 **Project State:**
-@.planning/STATE.md
+{state_content}
 
 **Roadmap:**
-@.planning/ROADMAP.md
+{roadmap_content}
 
 **Requirements (if exists):**
-@.planning/REQUIREMENTS.md
+{requirements_content}
 
 **Phase Context (if exists):**
-@.planning/phases/{phase_dir}/{phase}-CONTEXT.md
+{context_content}
 
 **Research (if exists):**
-@.planning/phases/{phase_dir}/{phase}-RESEARCH.md
+{research_content}
 
 **Gap Closure (if --gaps mode):**
-@.planning/phases/{phase_dir}/{phase}-VERIFICATION.md
-@.planning/phases/{phase_dir}/{phase}-UAT.md
+{verification_content}
+{uat_content}
 
 </planning_context>
 
@@ -320,7 +322,17 @@ Display:
 ◆ Spawning plan checker...
 ```
 
-Fill checker prompt and spawn:
+Read plans and requirements for the checker:
+
+```bash
+# Read all plans in phase directory
+PLANS_CONTENT=$(cat "${PHASE_DIR}"/*-PLAN.md 2>/dev/null)
+
+# Read requirements (reuse from step 7 if available)
+REQUIREMENTS_CONTENT=$(cat .planning/REQUIREMENTS.md 2>/dev/null)
+```
+
+Fill checker prompt with inlined content and spawn:
 
 ```markdown
 <verification_context>
@@ -329,10 +341,10 @@ Fill checker prompt and spawn:
 **Phase Goal:** {goal from ROADMAP}
 
 **Plans to verify:**
-@.planning/phases/{phase_dir}/*-PLAN.md
+{plans_content}
 
 **Requirements (if exists):**
-@.planning/REQUIREMENTS.md
+{requirements_content}
 
 </verification_context>
 
@@ -371,6 +383,12 @@ Track: `iteration_count` (starts at 1 after initial plan + check)
 
 Display: `Sending back to planner for revision... (iteration {N}/3)`
 
+Read current plans for revision context:
+
+```bash
+PLANS_CONTENT=$(cat "${PHASE_DIR}"/*-PLAN.md 2>/dev/null)
+```
+
 Spawn gsd-planner with revision prompt:
 
 ```markdown
@@ -380,7 +398,7 @@ Spawn gsd-planner with revision prompt:
 **Mode:** revision
 
 **Existing plans:**
-@.planning/phases/{phase_dir}/*-PLAN.md
+{plans_content}
 
 **Checker issues:**
 {structured_issues_from_checker}
@@ -388,7 +406,7 @@ Spawn gsd-planner with revision prompt:
 </revision_context>
 
 <instructions>
-Read existing PLAN.md files. Make targeted updates to address checker issues.
+Make targeted updates to address checker issues.
 Do NOT replan from scratch unless issues are fundamental.
 Return what changed.
 </instructions>
diff --git a/get-shit-done/workflows/execute-phase.md b/get-shit-done/workflows/execute-phase.md
index d2bdf1bcd..f2ff7ac57 100644
--- a/get-shit-done/workflows/execute-phase.md
+++ b/get-shit-done/workflows/execute-phase.md
@@ -170,9 +170,18 @@ Execute each wave in sequence. Autonomous plans within a wave run in parallel.
    - Bad: "Executing terrain generation plan"
    - Good: "Procedural terrain generator using Perlin noise — creates height maps, biome zones, and collision meshes. Required before vehicle physics can interact with ground."
 
-2. **Spawn all autonomous agents in wave simultaneously:**
+2. **Read files and spawn all autonomous agents in wave simultaneously:**
 
-   Use Task tool with multiple parallel calls. Each agent gets prompt from subagent-task-prompt template:
+   Before spawning, read file contents. The `@` syntax does not work across Task() boundaries - content must be inlined.
+
+   ```bash
+   # Read each plan in the wave
+   PLAN_CONTENT=$(cat "{plan_path}")
+   STATE_CONTENT=$(cat .planning/STATE.md)
+   CONFIG_CONTENT=$(cat .planning/config.json 2>/dev/null)
+   ```
+
+   Use Task tool with multiple parallel calls. Each agent gets prompt with inlined content:
 
    ```
    <objective>
@@ -189,9 +198,14 @@ Execute each wave in sequence. Autonomous plans within a wave run in parallel.
    </execution_context>
 
    <context>
-   Plan: @{plan_path}
-   Project state: @.planning/STATE.md
-   Config: @.planning/config.json (if exists)
+   Plan:
+   {plan_content}
+
+   Project state:
+   {state_content}
+
+   Config (if exists):
+   {config_content}
    </context>
 
    <success_criteria>