diff --git a/DECISIONS.md b/DECISIONS.md
index b1bd477..4c5641f 100644
--- a/DECISIONS.md
+++ b/DECISIONS.md
@@ -1669,3 +1669,8 @@ Implementation decisions not spelled out in `memory-bank/implementation-plan.md`
 
 - **Numbering:** received as "CR-019 — Independent Pilots" for "Phase 19"; stored as **CR-020**, built as **Phase 20** (its 19.n = 20.n). Its decisions CR-019.D1–D9 are **0.5.118–0.5.126**. Its references: CR-005 → CR-007, CR-007 → CR-010, CR-011 → CR-014 (its 10K.6 → Step 14.6), CR-014 → CR-015, CR-016 → CR-017, CR-017 → CR-018, CR-018 → CR-019; CR-001 and CR-004 are unchanged.
 - **Plan 0.3:** automation/standing routes is struck from the deferred list; standing orders, pilot traits, decision events and a hiring market stay deferred.
+
+## Step 20.1
+
+- **The settings live in one `independentPilots` group** in GameConfig.
+- **The Dispatch Office costs exactly a Lighter (36,000 cr)**, the CR's "start around the price of a Lighter", until Step 20.8's balance pass says otherwise.
diff --git a/memory-bank/progress.md b/memory-bank/progress.md
index 1fc43b7..fcf0873 100644
--- a/memory-bank/progress.md
+++ b/memory-bank/progress.md
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ Spec: `memory-bank/change-requests/CR-020-bridge-dashboard.md`. New decisions re
 
 Spec: `memory-bank/change-requests/CR-020-independent-pilots.md` (received as "CR-019 … Phase 19"). New decisions recorded as plan §0.5.118–0.5.126.
 
-- [ ] Step 20.1 — Content and config
+- [x] **Step 20.1 — Content and config.** `config.independentPilots`: `dispatchOfficePrice` 36,000 (a Lighter), `firstLookRealMinutes` 3, `turnaroundGameMinutes` 15 (15 real seconds at ×60), `emptyPeriodsBeforeHome` 3, `maxCatchUpRealDays` 7 and `defaultSpendingFloor` 500. All must be positive, and the first-look window must be shorter than the board period. Two stale quarter-tank comments from CR-015 are gone. Tests (`packages/content/test/config.test.ts`): the defaults, with the Dispatch Office at the Lighter's price; zero and negative values rejected; a first-look window as long as the board period rejected.
 - [ ] Step 20.2 — Sim: eligibility and job choice
 - [ ] Step 20.3 — Engine: Dispatch Office, modes, orders
 - [ ] Step 20.4 — Engine: event-queue catch-up
diff --git a/packages/content/src/data/config.ts b/packages/content/src/data/config.ts
index c0d9742..ba4eaca 100644
--- a/packages/content/src/data/config.ts
+++ b/packages/content/src/data/config.ts
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ export const gameConfig: GameConfig = {
   loanRepaymentShare: 0.25,
   // The deal (CR-013): Halvorsen's Courier for the avatar, his Clipper for the
   // veteran, and the Earth bay. The loan is computed from their prices.
-  // The ships come with a quarter tank (CR-015, user decision): the Clipper earns
-  // locally before the player can fuel a Mars run, as before fuel tanks.
+  // The deal's ships come with full tanks (CR-018, decision 0.5.111).
   deal: {
     avatarShipModelId: "courier",
     veteranShipModelId: "clipper",
@@ -87,4 +86,15 @@ export const gameConfig: GameConfig = {
   pilotHireCost: 2000,
   // A quarter of each contract's profit (payout − fuel) goes to a hired pilot (CR-010).
   pilotProfitShare: 0.25,
+  // Independent pilots (CR-020): the Dispatch Office costs about a Lighter; the
+  // player has the first 3 minutes of every 10-minute board; pilots turn round
+  // in 15 game minutes (15 real seconds) and head home after 3 empty boards.
+  independentPilots: {
+    dispatchOfficePrice: 36_000,
+    firstLookRealMinutes: 3,
+    turnaroundGameMinutes: 15,
+    emptyPeriodsBeforeHome: 3,
+    maxCatchUpRealDays: 7,
+    defaultSpendingFloor: 500,
+  },
 };
diff --git a/packages/content/src/schemas.ts b/packages/content/src/schemas.ts
index 3ea49e4..5b50548 100644
--- a/packages/content/src/schemas.ts
+++ b/packages/content/src/schemas.ts
@@ -242,7 +242,6 @@ export const gameConfigSchema = z
       avatarShipModelId: z.string().min(1),
       veteranShipModelId: z.string().min(1),
       bayLocationId: z.string().min(1),
-      /** How full the deal's ships' tanks are (CR-015, user decision): Halvorsen's leftovers. */
     }),
     contractBoardPeriodRealMinutes: z.number().positive(),
     /** Past board periods whose boards and accepted contracts are kept (Step 7.3). */
@@ -330,12 +329,35 @@ export const gameConfigSchema = z
     pilotHireCost: nonNegativeInt,
     /** Hired pilots' share of profit (payout − fuel) per contract delivery (decision 0.5.12, CR-010). */
     pilotProfitShare: fraction,
+    /** Independent pilots (CR-020, decisions 0.5.119–0.5.125). */
+    independentPilots: z.object({
+      /** Credits: the one-time Dispatch Office (0.5.119). */
+      dispatchOfficePrice: positiveInt,
+      /** Real minutes into each board period that its jobs are the player's alone (0.5.122). */
+      firstLookRealMinutes: z.number().positive(),
+      /** Game minutes from a pilot becoming able to act to their next job (CR-020 §2). */
+      turnaroundGameMinutes: z.number().positive(),
+      /** Empty board periods in a row away from home before heading home (0.5.124). */
+      emptyPeriodsBeforeHome: positiveInt,
+      /** Real days of absence catch-up replays at most (0.5.125). */
+      maxCatchUpRealDays: z.number().positive(),
+      /** Credits pilots never spend the company below, by default (0.5.123). */
+      defaultSpendingFloor: positiveInt,
+    }),
   })
   .refine(
     (config) =>
       config.contractMassBands.reduce((sum, band) => sum + band.count, 0) ===
       config.contractBoardSize,
     { message: "Mass band counts must add up to contractBoardSize", path: ["contractMassBands"] },
+  )
+  .refine(
+    (config) =>
+      config.independentPilots.firstLookRealMinutes < config.contractBoardPeriodRealMinutes,
+    {
+      message: "The first-look window must be shorter than the board period",
+      path: ["independentPilots", "firstLookRealMinutes"],
+    },
   );
 export type GameConfig = z.infer<typeof gameConfigSchema>;
 
diff --git a/packages/content/test/config.test.ts b/packages/content/test/config.test.ts
index bad8c79..0b9b293 100644
--- a/packages/content/test/config.test.ts
+++ b/packages/content/test/config.test.ts
@@ -96,3 +96,37 @@ describe("tutorial settings (Step 17.1, decisions 0.5.106, 0.5.107)", () => {
     );
   });
 });
+
+describe("independent pilots config (Step 20.1, CR-020)", () => {
+  const settings = gameConfig.independentPilots;
+  const withSettings = (change: Partial<typeof settings>) =>
+    gameConfigSchema.safeParse({ ...gameConfig, independentPilots: { ...settings, ...change } })
+      .success;
+
+  it("has every setting, all positive, at the CR's defaults", () => {
+    const lighter = shipModels.find((s) => s.id === "lighter")!;
+    expect(settings).toEqual({
+      dispatchOfficePrice: lighter.price,
+      firstLookRealMinutes: 3,
+      turnaroundGameMinutes: 15,
+      emptyPeriodsBeforeHome: 3,
+      maxCatchUpRealDays: 7,
+      defaultSpendingFloor: 500,
+    });
+    for (const value of Object.values(settings)) expect(value).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+  });
+
+  it("rejects zero or negative values", () => {
+    for (const key of Object.keys(settings) as (keyof typeof settings)[]) {
+      expect(withSettings({ [key]: 0 }), key).toBe(false);
+      expect(withSettings({ [key]: -1 }), key).toBe(false);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("keeps the first-look window shorter than the board period", () => {
+    expect(settings.firstLookRealMinutes).toBeLessThan(gameConfig.contractBoardPeriodRealMinutes);
+    expect(withSettings({ firstLookRealMinutes: gameConfig.contractBoardPeriodRealMinutes })).toBe(
+      false,
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/content/test/schemas.test.ts b/packages/content/test/schemas.test.ts
index 2dfc5c2..2ad197a 100644
--- a/packages/content/test/schemas.test.ts
+++ b/packages/content/test/schemas.test.ts
@@ -104,6 +104,14 @@ const validGameConfig = {
   skillPointsPerLevel: 1,
   pilotHireCost: 1000,
   pilotProfitShare: 0.25,
+  independentPilots: {
+    dispatchOfficePrice: 36_000,
+    firstLookRealMinutes: 3,
+    turnaroundGameMinutes: 15,
+    emptyPeriodsBeforeHome: 3,
+    maxCatchUpRealDays: 7,
+    defaultSpendingFloor: 500,
+  },
   tutorialLoanerShipModelId: "company-courier",
   tutorialRunsBeforeDeal: 5,
   tutorialXpMultiplier: 2,