Delivery prerequisite: finish existing GKE pilot PR #6 without duplicate implementation #17

Scope and evidence

Track and finish the existing PR #6, not a new pilot. Head 26754016398ec5ae4b35af68dd52d0414b029a1e has successful GKE jobs at https://github.com/faberline/keep/actions/runs/38774293655, but remains unmerged. Main has no GKE workflow; .github/issue-ci-required-gates.json explicitly blocks qualification on the missing merged current-head cloud functional/e2e gate and affected performance coverage. PR6 body mentions an obsolete AW branch, while its actual workflow uses AW@main.

Acceptance / execution order

• Verify original owner, worktree/lease and remote head, then record an explicit continuation binding to PR6. Do not let issue/N default routing create a duplicate pilot branch or PR.
• Independently review the actual pilot diff and update stale descriptions without claiming the earlier run covers later edits; inventory workflow/test source identities and pin reviewed reusable dependencies.
• Reconcile PR6's bounded requirements: deployed image identity, nonzero persistent-data checks and cleanup; produce exact-head review/evidence and remaining qualification gaps.
• Prepare the thin consumer integration needed after separately authorized landing; retain failure-only and real blockers until reviewed full applicable gates exist.
• Use keep: competitor perf-gate -- vs Redis / Dragonfly / KeyDB / Garnet (arena, ratchet) #2/PR10 for the existing performance ratchet and Linux baseline gap; preserve intentional Refs keep: competitor perf-gate -- vs Redis / Dragonfly / KeyDB / Garnet (arena, ratchet) #2 and Refs keep: KV store -- redis/dragonfly replacement (epic) #1 on PR10/11 because those parent requirements remain incomplete.
• Local validation is affected isolated unit/static; full applicable tests run online through the authorized normal path, not local cluster work.

Scheduling

P1 in keep@0.5.0; not todo until original PR continuation and owner release are proven. This issue is the missing pilot tracking contract, not permission to merge/rename branches, dispatch CI, create resources, alter AW/credentials/permissions or clear holds.