diff --git a/ingestion/cmd/server/main.go b/ingestion/cmd/server/main.go
index 91ee40e..a91a961 100644
--- a/ingestion/cmd/server/main.go
+++ b/ingestion/cmd/server/main.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/api"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/claudewatcher"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/embed"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/gitea"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/graphstore"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/graphsync"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/llm"
@@ -175,6 +176,15 @@ func main() {
 		logger.Info("brain reranker configured", "url", rerankURL, "model", rerankModel)
 	}
 
+	// Gitea ticket tracker for the capture capability (#52). Token via env
+	// only — never logged or in argv. Both vars must be set to enable it;
+	// gitea.New returns nil otherwise, leaving ticket integration off.
+	giteaURL := envOr("BRAIN_GITEA_URL", "https://git.d-ma.be")
+	if tracker := gitea.New(giteaURL, os.Getenv("BRAIN_GITEA_TOKEN")); tracker != nil {
+		mcpSrv = mcpSrv.WithIssueTracker(tracker)
+		logger.Info("brain gitea tracker configured", "url", giteaURL)
+	}
+
 	// Hybrid retrieval (pgvector + nomic-embed-text). Both env vars must
 	// be set together for the path to wire on; otherwise BM25-only.
 	var vectorStore *vectorstore.PGStore
diff --git a/ingestion/internal/gitea/gitea.go b/ingestion/internal/gitea/gitea.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d54d1a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ingestion/internal/gitea/gitea.go
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+// Package gitea implements capture.IssueTracker against a Gitea instance
+// over its REST API. It is the new outbound dependency the brain server
+// gains for the capture capability (#49c/#52): the server otherwise does
+// brain-local file ops only.
+//
+// Owner is hard-coded to the operator and never taken from caller input.
+// The API token is read once at construction, held in the struct, and
+// never logged or placed in argv — it travels only in the Authorization
+// header of outbound requests (AGENTS.md secret-handling).
+package gitea
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/capture"
+)
+
+// owner is the fixed repository owner for every ticket operation. It is a
+// constant, not a parameter, so a caller can never redirect a write to
+// another owner's repo.
+const owner = "mathias"
+
+// Client is a Gitea REST API IssueTracker.
+type Client struct {
+	baseURL string
+	token   string
+	http    *http.Client
+}
+
+// New constructs a Client. It returns nil when either baseURL or token is
+// empty, so callers can treat missing config as "tracker disabled" with a
+// single nil check (mirrors embed.New).
+func New(baseURL, token string) *Client {
+	if baseURL == "" || token == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &Client{
+		baseURL: strings.TrimRight(baseURL, "/"),
+		token:   token,
+		http:    &http.Client{Timeout: 15 * time.Second},
+	}
+}
+
+// issueResponse is the subset of a Gitea issue/comment payload we read.
+type issueResponse struct {
+	Number  int    `json:"number"`
+	HTMLURL string `json:"html_url"`
+}
+
+// CreateIssue opens a new issue under the fixed owner.
+func (c *Client) CreateIssue(ctx context.Context, repo, title, body string) (capture.IssueRef, error) {
+	var out issueResponse
+	if err := c.do(ctx, http.MethodPost,
+		fmt.Sprintf("/api/v1/repos/%s/%s/issues", owner, repo),
+		map[string]any{"title": title, "body": body}, &out); err != nil {
+		return capture.IssueRef{}, err
+	}
+	return capture.IssueRef{Repo: repo, Number: out.Number, URL: out.HTMLURL}, nil
+}
+
+// CommentIssue posts a comment on an existing issue.
+func (c *Client) CommentIssue(ctx context.Context, repo string, number int, body string) (capture.IssueRef, error) {
+	var out issueResponse
+	if err := c.do(ctx, http.MethodPost,
+		fmt.Sprintf("/api/v1/repos/%s/%s/issues/%d/comments", owner, repo, number),
+		map[string]any{"body": body}, &out); err != nil {
+		return capture.IssueRef{}, err
+	}
+	return capture.IssueRef{Repo: repo, Number: number, URL: out.HTMLURL}, nil
+}
+
+// CloseIssue closes an issue, first posting a closing comment when one is
+// given (empty comment ⇒ close only).
+func (c *Client) CloseIssue(ctx context.Context, repo string, number int, comment string) (capture.IssueRef, error) {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(comment) != "" {
+		if _, err := c.CommentIssue(ctx, repo, number, comment); err != nil {
+			return capture.IssueRef{}, err
+		}
+	}
+	var out issueResponse
+	if err := c.do(ctx, http.MethodPatch,
+		fmt.Sprintf("/api/v1/repos/%s/%s/issues/%d", owner, repo, number),
+		map[string]any{"state": "closed"}, &out); err != nil {
+		return capture.IssueRef{}, err
+	}
+	return capture.IssueRef{Repo: repo, Number: number, URL: out.HTMLURL}, nil
+}
+
+// do performs a JSON request against the Gitea API and decodes the
+// response into out. Errors carry the status and a truncated body for
+// diagnosis but never the token.
+func (c *Client) do(ctx context.Context, method, path string, payload any, out *issueResponse) error {
+	reqBody, err := json.Marshal(payload)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("marshal request: %w", err)
+	}
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, method, c.baseURL+path, bytes.NewReader(reqBody))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	req.Header.Set("Accept", "application/json")
+	// Gitea's token scheme. Held here only; never logged.
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "token "+c.token)
+
+	resp, err := c.http.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("gitea %s %s: %w", method, path, err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = resp.Body.Close() }()
+
+	respBody, _ := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(resp.Body, 4096))
+	if resp.StatusCode < 200 || resp.StatusCode >= 300 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("gitea %s %s: status %d: %s", method, path, resp.StatusCode, strings.TrimSpace(string(respBody)))
+	}
+	if out != nil && len(respBody) > 0 {
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(respBody, out); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("gitea %s %s: decode response: %w", method, path, err)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/ingestion/internal/gitea/gitea_test.go b/ingestion/internal/gitea/gitea_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..989dd4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ingestion/internal/gitea/gitea_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+package gitea_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/gitea"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+const testToken = "super-secret-token-value"
+
+func TestNewNilWhenUnconfigured(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Nil(t, gitea.New("", testToken))
+	assert.Nil(t, gitea.New("https://git.example", ""))
+}
+
+func TestCreateIssueForcesOwnerAndAuth(t *testing.T) {
+	var gotPath, gotAuth, gotBody string
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		gotPath = r.URL.Path
+		gotAuth = r.Header.Get("Authorization")
+		b, _ := io.ReadAll(r.Body)
+		gotBody = string(b)
+		assert.Equal(t, http.MethodPost, r.Method)
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusCreated)
+		_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]any{"number": 42, "html_url": "https://git.d-ma.be/mathias/hyperguild/issues/42"})
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	c := gitea.New(srv.URL, testToken)
+	require.NotNil(t, c)
+	ref, err := c.CreateIssue(context.Background(), "hyperguild", "Do the thing", "details")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, "/api/v1/repos/mathias/hyperguild/issues", gotPath, "owner forced to mathias")
+	assert.Equal(t, "token "+testToken, gotAuth)
+	assert.Contains(t, gotBody, "Do the thing")
+	assert.Equal(t, "hyperguild", ref.Repo)
+	assert.Equal(t, 42, ref.Number)
+	assert.Contains(t, ref.URL, "/issues/42")
+}
+
+func TestCommentIssue(t *testing.T) {
+	var gotPath string
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		gotPath = r.URL.Path
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusCreated)
+		_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]any{"html_url": "https://git/c/1"})
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	ref, err := gitea.New(srv.URL, testToken).CommentIssue(context.Background(), "hyperguild", 7, "a comment")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "/api/v1/repos/mathias/hyperguild/issues/7/comments", gotPath)
+	assert.Equal(t, 7, ref.Number)
+}
+
+func TestCloseIssueWithComment(t *testing.T) {
+	var paths []string
+	var states []string
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		paths = append(paths, r.Method+" "+r.URL.Path)
+		if r.Method == http.MethodPatch {
+			var body map[string]any
+			b, _ := io.ReadAll(r.Body)
+			_ = json.Unmarshal(b, &body)
+			states = append(states, body["state"].(string))
+		}
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]any{"number": 9, "html_url": "https://git/i/9"})
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	ref, err := gitea.New(srv.URL, testToken).CloseIssue(context.Background(), "hyperguild", 9, "closing because done")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, 9, ref.Number)
+	// Comment posted first, then state PATCHed to closed.
+	assert.Contains(t, paths, "POST /api/v1/repos/mathias/hyperguild/issues/9/comments")
+	assert.Contains(t, paths, "PATCH /api/v1/repos/mathias/hyperguild/issues/9")
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"closed"}, states)
+}
+
+func TestCloseIssueNoComment(t *testing.T) {
+	var commented bool
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		if strings.HasSuffix(r.URL.Path, "/comments") {
+			commented = true
+		}
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]any{"number": 3, "html_url": "https://git/i/3"})
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	_, err := gitea.New(srv.URL, testToken).CloseIssue(context.Background(), "hyperguild", 3, "")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.False(t, commented, "empty comment ⇒ no comment POST")
+}
+
+func TestErrorPathDoesNotLeakToken(t *testing.T) {
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte("boom"))
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+
+	_, err := gitea.New(srv.URL, testToken).CreateIssue(context.Background(), "hyperguild", "t", "b")
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.NotContains(t, err.Error(), testToken, "token must never appear in an error message")
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "500")
+}
diff --git a/ingestion/internal/mcp/server.go b/ingestion/internal/mcp/server.go
index b072db5..a88a21b 100644
--- a/ingestion/internal/mcp/server.go
+++ b/ingestion/internal/mcp/server.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/brainstore"
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/capture"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/graphstore"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/graphsync"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/pipeline"
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ type Server struct {
 	embedder  search.Embedder       // nil = BM25-only retrieval
 	graph     graphsync.Store       // nil = brain_graph and GraphRAG augmentation disabled
 	store     *brainstore.Store     // shared brain write/update/get impl (also used by capture)
+	tracker   capture.IssueTracker  // nil = no Gitea ticket integration; wired for capture (#53)
 }
 
 // NewServer constructs a Server bound to brainDir. pipelineCfg supplies the
@@ -100,6 +102,20 @@ func (s *Server) WithGraph(g *graphstore.PGStore) *Server {
 	return s
 }
 
+// WithIssueTracker injects the Gitea ticket tracker behind the
+// capture.IssueTracker interface. nil leaves ticket integration off. The
+// use-case (capture) consumes this in #53; it is wired here so the
+// dependency is constructed once and stays swappable/testable.
+func (s *Server) WithIssueTracker(t capture.IssueTracker) *Server {
+	s.tracker = t
+	return s
+}
+
+// IssueTracker returns the injected ticket tracker (nil when unconfigured).
+func (s *Server) IssueTracker() capture.IssueTracker {
+	return s.tracker
+}
+
 func (s *Server) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	// MCP streamable HTTP: GET establishes the SSE stream for server-to-client events.
 	if r.Method == http.MethodGet {
diff --git a/ingestion/internal/mcp/server_test.go b/ingestion/internal/mcp/server_test.go
index 6d6494d..06f4bfb 100644
--- a/ingestion/internal/mcp/server_test.go
+++ b/ingestion/internal/mcp/server_test.go
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@ package mcp_test
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/capture"
 	"github.com/mathiasbq/hyperguild/ingestion/internal/mcp"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -93,3 +95,22 @@ func TestServerUnknownMethodReturnsError(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, float64(-32601), errObj["code"])
 	assert.Contains(t, errObj["message"].(string), "unknown/method")
 }
+
+type stubTracker struct{}
+
+func (stubTracker) CreateIssue(context.Context, string, string, string) (capture.IssueRef, error) {
+	return capture.IssueRef{}, nil
+}
+func (stubTracker) CloseIssue(context.Context, string, int, string) (capture.IssueRef, error) {
+	return capture.IssueRef{}, nil
+}
+func (stubTracker) CommentIssue(context.Context, string, int, string) (capture.IssueRef, error) {
+	return capture.IssueRef{}, nil
+}
+
+func TestWithIssueTrackerInjects(t *testing.T) {
+	srv := mcp.NewServer(t.TempDir(), nil, nil, nil)
+	assert.Nil(t, srv.IssueTracker(), "tracker is off by default")
+	srv = srv.WithIssueTracker(stubTracker{})
+	assert.NotNil(t, srv.IssueTracker(), "tracker injected behind the interface")
+}