diff --git a/backend/src/cyclone/cli.py b/backend/src/cyclone/cli.py
index 7e6b358..6b8a4f3 100644
--- a/backend/src/cyclone/cli.py
+++ b/backend/src/cyclone/cli.py
@@ -1284,5 +1284,97 @@ def pull_inbound(
             click.echo(f"  {e}", err=True)
 
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# SP38: ack-orphans status + reconcile
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@main.group("ack-orphans")
+def ack_orphans_group() -> None:
+    """Inspect and reconcile 999 acks with no resolvable source claim.
+
+    "Orphans" are 999 acks whose source 837 batch is not present in
+    the ``batches`` table — typically because the source 837 was
+    submitted to HPE before the current ``cyclone.db`` snapshot was
+    created. They are real production data (valid audit history) but
+    cannot be auto-linked to claims.
+
+    See ``docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-07-cyclone-orphan-ack-housekeeping-design.md``
+    for the full design and operator triage workflow.
+    """
+
+
+@ack_orphans_group.command("status")
+def ack_orphans_status_cmd() -> None:
+    """Print a per-ST02 summary of orphan 999 acks.
+
+    One row per distinct orphan ``set_control_number`` (ST02), ranked
+    by ``ack_count DESC`` so the heaviest backlog surfaces first.
+    Plus a TOTAL row at the bottom.
+
+    Exit codes: 0 on success, 1 on DB error.
+    """
+    from cyclone import db as db_mod
+    from cyclone.store import store as cycl_store
+
+    try:
+        db_mod.init_db()
+        summary = cycl_store.find_ack_orphan_st02_summary()
+    except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001
+        click.echo(f"ack-orphans status failed: {type(exc).__name__}: {exc}", err=True)
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    if not summary:
+        click.echo("no orphans (acks is empty or all are linked)")
+        return
+
+    # Table layout: ST02 | ACK COUNT | HAS BATCH
+    click.echo(f"{'ST02':<15} {'ACK COUNT':>10}   HAS BATCH")
+    click.echo(f"{'----':-<15} {'---------':->10}   ---------")
+    total = 0
+    for row in summary:
+        marker = "yes" if row["has_batch"] else "no"
+        click.echo(
+            f"{row['st02']:<15} {row['ack_count']:>10}   {marker}"
+        )
+        total += row["ack_count"]
+    click.echo(f"{'TOTAL':<15} {total:>10}")
+
+
+@ack_orphans_group.command("reconcile")
+@click.option("--dry-run", is_flag=True,
+              help="Print the plan but do not insert any rows.")
+def ack_orphans_reconcile_cmd(dry_run: bool) -> None:
+    """Insert synthetic batches rows for orphan ST02s that lack one.
+
+    For every orphan ST02 where no ``batches`` row exists, insert a
+    synthetic row marked with ``input_filename =
+    '<synthetic:orphan-reconcile>'`` so future 999 acks for the same
+    ST02s can resolve against the ``batch_envelope_index`` (though
+    they still won't link to claims — the source 837s were never
+    ingested).
+
+    Idempotent: re-running after a successful pass is a no-op.
+
+    Exit codes: 0 on success, 1 on DB error.
+    """
+    from cyclone import db as db_mod
+    from cyclone.store import store as cycl_store
+
+    try:
+        db_mod.init_db()
+        plan = cycl_store.reconcile_orphan_st02s(dry_run=dry_run)
+    except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001
+        click.echo(f"ack-orphans reconcile failed: {type(exc).__name__}: {exc}", err=True)
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    click.echo(
+        f"Created: {plan['created']} synthetic batch rows. "
+        f"Skipped: {plan['skipped']} (already had a batch row)."
+    )
+    if dry_run:
+        click.echo("(dry-run — no rows inserted)")
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     main()
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_ack_orphans_cli.py b/backend/tests/test_ack_orphans_cli.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1535279
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_ack_orphans_cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,210 @@
+"""SP38: CLI tests for ``cyclone ack-orphans {status,reconcile}``.
+
+Uses ``click.testing.CliRunner`` (matching the SP37-followup #5
+pattern that replaced ``subprocess.run`` with the in-process
+runner). The CLI commands are thin wrappers over the store helpers
+tested in ``test_ack_orphan_summary.py`` — these tests pin the
+shell-facing shape (table format, exit codes, --dry-run flag).
+
+The autouse ``_auto_init_db`` fixture in ``conftest.py`` provides
+a fresh ``tmp_path/test.db`` for every test; the CLI commands pick
+it up via the ``CYCLONE_DB_URL`` env var the fixture sets.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+
+import pytest
+from click.testing import CliRunner
+
+from cyclone import db
+from cyclone.cli import main
+from cyclone.db import Ack, Batch
+
+
+def _now():
+    return datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+
+
+def _ingest_orphan(s, st02: str) -> int:
+    """Insert a 999 ack row whose set_responses[0].set_control_number == st02.
+
+    Returns the new ack id. The 999 is an orphan (no claim_acks row)
+    so it surfaces in the summary.
+    """
+    raw = {
+        "envelope": {"sender_id": "S", "receiver_id": "R",
+                     "control_number": "000000099", "transaction_date": "2024-01-01",
+                     "implementation_guide": "005010X231A1"},
+        "functional_group_acks": [],
+        "set_responses": [
+            {"set_control_number": st02, "transaction_set_identifier": "837",
+             "ak2": {"functional_id_code": "837"}, "segment_errors": [],
+             "set_accept_reject": {"code": "A"}}
+        ],
+        "summary": {"accepted_count": 1, "rejected_count": 0},
+    }
+    ack = Ack(
+        source_batch_id=f"999-{st02}-cli-test",
+        accepted_count=1, rejected_count=0, received_count=1,
+        ack_code="A", parsed_at=_now(), raw_json=json.dumps(raw),
+    )
+    s.add(ack)
+    s.flush()
+    return ack.id
+
+
+# ---- cyclone ack-orphans status ------------------------------------------ #
+
+
+def test_status_prints_table_with_orphans():
+    """``cyclone ack-orphans status`` prints a table with ST02 +
+    ack count + has-batch flag, plus a TOTAL line at the bottom.
+
+    Mirrors the spec's intent: operators want a one-line-per-orphan
+    view that ranks the heaviest backlog first.
+    """
+    with db.SessionLocal()() as s:
+        _ingest_orphan(s, "991102989")
+        _ingest_orphan(s, "991102988")
+        s.commit()
+
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    result = runner.invoke(main, ["ack-orphans", "status"])
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    # Table header + two data rows + total line.
+    assert "ST02" in result.output
+    assert "ACK COUNT" in result.output
+    assert "991102989" in result.output
+    assert "991102988" in result.output
+    assert "TOTAL" in result.output
+
+
+def test_status_exits_zero_on_empty_db():
+    """With no orphans, status exits 0 and prints a 'no orphans' note."""
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    result = runner.invoke(main, ["ack-orphans", "status"])
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    # The empty case should be informative, not silent.
+    assert "no orphans" in result.output.lower() or "0" in result.output
+
+
+def test_status_table_includes_has_batch_column():
+    """When a ST02 already has a batches row, the table marks it
+    with ``yes`` (or similar) so operators can see which orphans
+    are unbacked vs already-covered.
+    """
+    with db.SessionLocal()() as s:
+        # Orphan with NO batch.
+        _ingest_orphan(s, "991102988")
+        # Orphan WITH a pre-existing batch row.
+        import uuid
+        bid = uuid.uuid4().hex
+        s.add(Batch(
+            id=bid, kind="837p", input_filename="test.837p",
+            transaction_set_control_number="991102977", parsed_at=_now(),
+        ))
+        _ingest_orphan(s, "991102977")
+        s.commit()
+
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    result = runner.invoke(main, ["ack-orphans", "status"])
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    # Look for "yes" / "no" markers in the table.
+    lines = result.output.splitlines()
+    has_yes = any("yes" in ln.lower() for ln in lines)
+    has_no = any("no" in ln.lower() for ln in lines)
+    assert has_yes and has_no, (
+        f"Expected table to mark 'yes' for ST02s with batches and "
+        f"'no' for ST02s without. Got:\n{result.output}"
+    )
+
+
+# ---- cyclone ack-orphans reconcile --------------------------------------- #
+
+
+def test_reconcile_creates_synthetic_batches():
+    """``cyclone ack-orphans reconcile`` inserts a synthetic batch
+    row for each orphan ST02 without one. Confirms the count + the
+    sentinel filename.
+    """
+    with db.SessionLocal()() as s:
+        _ingest_orphan(s, "991102989")
+        _ingest_orphan(s, "991102988")
+        s.commit()
+
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    result = runner.invoke(main, ["ack-orphans", "reconcile"])
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+
+    # The CLI should print the created/skipped counts.
+    assert "Created" in result.output or "created" in result.output
+    assert "Skipped" in result.output or "skipped" in result.output
+
+    with db.SessionLocal()() as s:
+        synthetic = (
+            s.query(Batch)
+            .filter(Batch.input_filename == "<synthetic:orphan-reconcile>")
+            .all()
+        )
+        assert len(synthetic) == 2
+        st02s = {r.transaction_set_control_number for r in synthetic}
+        assert st02s == {"991102989", "991102988"}
+
+
+def test_reconcile_dry_run_does_not_write():
+    """``--dry-run`` returns the plan shape but does NOT insert rows.
+    Operators use this to preview before committing.
+    """
+    with db.SessionLocal()() as s:
+        _ingest_orphan(s, "991102989")
+        s.commit()
+
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    result = runner.invoke(main, ["ack-orphans", "reconcile", "--dry-run"])
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    # The plan reports the would-create count.
+    assert "1" in result.output  # would-create 1 row
+
+    # But no synthetic batch row was inserted.
+    with db.SessionLocal()() as s:
+        n = (
+            s.query(Batch)
+            .filter(Batch.input_filename == "<synthetic:orphan-reconcile>")
+            .count()
+        )
+        assert n == 0
+
+
+def test_reconcile_is_idempotent():
+    """A second reconcile after a successful pass is a no-op:
+    created=0, skipped=N. Tested at the CLI shell level so the
+    user-visible output also pins this invariant.
+    """
+    with db.SessionLocal()() as s:
+        _ingest_orphan(s, "991102989")
+        s.commit()
+
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    first = runner.invoke(main, ["ack-orphans", "reconcile"])
+    second = runner.invoke(main, ["ack-orphans", "reconcile"])
+    assert first.exit_code == 0
+    assert second.exit_code == 0
+
+    with db.SessionLocal()() as s:
+        n = (
+            s.query(Batch)
+            .filter(Batch.input_filename == "<synthetic:orphan-reconcile>")
+            .count()
+        )
+        assert n == 1  # still exactly one — second call was a no-op
+
+
+def test_reconcile_handles_no_orphans_gracefully():
+    """With zero orphans, reconcile exits 0 and prints an informative
+    message (no synthetic rows created, no error)."""
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    result = runner.invoke(main, ["ack-orphans", "reconcile"])
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    assert "0" in result.output  # created=0, skipped=0
\ No newline at end of file