diff --git a/docs/stories/epic-pro-13/STORY-PRO-13.5-PRIVATE-PRO-DISTRIBUTION-HARDENING.md b/docs/stories/epic-pro-13/STORY-PRO-13.5-PRIVATE-PRO-DISTRIBUTION-HARDENING.md
index d405f206f0..79b8539a8c 100644
--- a/docs/stories/epic-pro-13/STORY-PRO-13.5-PRIVATE-PRO-DISTRIBUTION-HARDENING.md
+++ b/docs/stories/epic-pro-13/STORY-PRO-13.5-PRIVATE-PRO-DISTRIBUTION-HARDENING.md
@@ -467,6 +467,7 @@ Expected implementation touchpoints:
 - 2026-05-12: `@aiox-squads/installer` bumped to `3.3.2` and `@aiox-squads/aiox-pro-cli` bumped to `0.2.1` so @devops can publish the signed-artifact installer and scoped CLI command fix.
 - 2026-05-12: GitHub Pro Integration checkout fixed to use `GITHUB_TOKEN` for the `aiox-core` PR merge ref and reserve `PRO_SUBMODULE_TOKEN` for private Pro submodule initialization only.
 - 2026-05-12: CodeRabbit PR follow-up applied: Pro Integration now injects the credentialized submodule URL through process-scoped `GIT_CONFIG_*` environment variables, and Pro wizard tests use repository-absolute package imports.
+- 2026-05-12: Release patch target advanced to `@aiox-squads/core@5.2.2` because npm latest is already `5.2.1`; the merged installer command fix must not be published from a regressive root package version.
 - Validation evidence:
   - `node -c packages/installer/src/wizard/pro-setup.js && node -c packages/aiox-pro-cli/bin/aiox-pro.js && node -c bin/utils/validate-publish.js`
   - `node -c packages/installer/src/pro/pro-scaffolder.js && node -c pro/license/license-api.js && node -c .aiox-core/cli/commands/pro/index.js`
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 13383afb1e..92bbef5af1 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@aiox-squads/core",
-  "version": "5.1.17",
+  "version": "5.2.2",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@aiox-squads/core",
-      "version": "5.1.17",
+      "version": "5.2.2",
       "license": "MIT",
       "workspaces": [
         "packages/*"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 95c3e90c7c..8949758251 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@aiox-squads/core",
-  "version": "5.1.17",
+  "version": "5.2.2",
   "description": "Synkra AIOX: AI-Orchestrated System for Full Stack Development - Core Framework",
   "bin": {
     "aiox": "bin/aiox.js",