diff --git a/app/models/hosted_file_link_models.py b/app/models/hosted_file_link_models.py
index 2a0a91b..b68c588 100644
--- a/app/models/hosted_file_link_models.py
+++ b/app/models/hosted_file_link_models.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import datetime, pytz
 
-from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Set, Union
-from pydantic import BaseModel, EmailStr, Field, Json, PrivateAttr, ValidationError, validator
+from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Set, Union, ClassVar
+from pydantic import BaseModel, EmailStr, Field, Json, PrivateAttr, ValidationError, validator, root_validator
 
 from app.db_sql import redis_lookup_id_random
 from app.lib_general import log, logging
@@ -14,22 +14,13 @@ class Hosted_File_Link_Base(BaseModel):
     log.setLevel(logging.WARNING) # DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR, EXCEPTION, CRITICAL
     log.debug(locals())
 
-    # id_random: Optional[str] = Field(
-    #     **base_fields['hosted_file_link_id_random'],
-    #     alias = 'hosted_file_link_id_random',
-    # )
-    id: Optional[int] = Field(
-        #alias = 'hosted_file_link_id'
-    )
-    account_id_random: Optional[str]
-    account_id: Optional[int]
+    id: Optional[Union[int, str]] = Field(None)
+    account_id: Optional[Union[int, str]] = Field(None, **base_fields['account_id_random'])
 
-    hosted_file_id_random: Optional[str]
-    hosted_file_id: Optional[int]
+    hosted_file_id: Optional[Union[int, str]] = Field(None, **base_fields['hosted_file_id_random'])
 
     link_to_type: Optional[str] # Should this be renamed to "link_to_obj_type" for clarity?
-    link_to_id_random: Optional[str] # Should this be renamed to "link_to_obj_id_random" for clarity?
-    link_to_id: Optional[int] # Should this be renamed to "link_to_obj_id" for clarity?
+    link_to_id: Optional[Union[int, str]] = Field(None) # Random string or integer
 
     # notes: Optional[str]
     created_on: Optional[datetime.datetime] = None
@@ -40,21 +31,33 @@ class Hosted_File_Link_Base(BaseModel):
 
     _processed_at: datetime.datetime = PrivateAttr(default_factory=datetime.datetime.now)
 
-    @validator('account_id', always=True)
-    def account_id_lookup(cls, v, values, **kwargs):
-        if isinstance(v, int) and v > 0: return v
-        elif id_random := values.get('account_id_random'):
-            return redis_lookup_id_random(record_id_random=id_random, table_name='account')
-        return None
+    @root_validator(pre=True)
+    def map_v3_ids(cls, values):
+        """
+        Vision Transformer:
+        Map DB keys to clean API keys and strip internal integers.
+        """
+        # 1. Map account_id
+        if a_rid := values.get('account_id_random'):
+            if not isinstance(values.get('account_id'), int):
+                values['account_id'] = a_rid
+                
+        # 2. Map hosted_file_id
+        if f_rid := values.get('hosted_file_id_random'):
+            if not isinstance(values.get('hosted_file_id'), int):
+                values['hosted_file_id'] = f_rid
+                
+        # 3. Map link_to_id
+        if l_rid := values.get('link_to_id_random'):
+            if not isinstance(values.get('link_to_id'), int):
+                values['link_to_id'] = l_rid
+                
+        return values
 
-    @validator('link_to_id', always=True)
-    def link_to_id_lookup(cls, v, values, **kwargs):
-        log.setLevel(logging.WARNING)
-        log.debug(locals())
-
-        if values['link_to_id_random'] and values['link_to_type']:
-            return redis_lookup_id_random(record_id_random=values['link_to_id_random'], table_name=values['link_to_type'])
-        return None
+    # Fields that are part of the model (for reading) but should not be saved to the DB table
+    fields_to_exclude_from_db: ClassVar[list] = [
+        'link_to'
+    ]
 
     class Config:
         underscore_attrs_are_private = True
diff --git a/documentation/V3_HOSTED_FILE_MIGRATION_PLAN.md b/documentation/V3_HOSTED_FILE_MIGRATION_PLAN.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdb1856
--- /dev/null
+++ b/documentation/V3_HOSTED_FILE_MIGRATION_PLAN.md
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+# Aether V3: Hosted File System Migration Plan
+
+## 1. Overview
+The goal of this project is to migrate the existing `hosted_file` and `hosted_file_link` logic into the **CRUD V3 Architecture**. This involves splitting the system into a **Standard Record Layer** (metadata) and a **Specialized Action Layer** (binary handling).
+
+## 2. Core Requirements
+- **Relational Integrity:** Fully utilize `hosted_file_link` for all object associations.
+- **Deduplication:** Automatic filesystem and DB hash-checks before creating new records.
+- **Cleanup:** Intelligent "Orphan" removal logic via `rm_orphan` flag.
+- **Flexible Auth:** Support uploads/downloads with JWT, without JWT (Guest), and via URL-key fallback (bypass API Key requirement).
+- **Binary Support:** High-performance streaming, byte-range seeking, and multi-file POST handling.
+- **Developer DX:** Integrated `delay_ms` simulation and extension whitelisting.
+
+---
+
+## 3. Implementation Phases (Bite-Sized Chunks)
+
+### Phase 1: V3 Metadata Baseline
+*Status: Ready to start*
+- Whitelist `hosted_file` and `hosted_file_link` in `obj_type_kv_li`.
+- Verify standard V3 Search works for files (filtering by account, hash, etc.).
+- Enable `PATCH /v3/crud/hosted_file/{id}` for metadata updates (title, description).
+- Implement "Fake Delete" using standard `DELETE ...?method=hide`.
+
+### Phase 2: V3 Action Router Scaffolding
+- Create `app/routers/api_v3_actions_hosted_file.py`.
+- Implement `delay_ms` middleware/logic for action routes.
+- Implement specialized Extension Validator.
+
+### Phase 3: Enhanced Binary Actions
+- **Download Action:** Port the streamer logic to `/v3/action/hosted_file/{id}/download`.
+    - Add URL-param fallback for API Key/Auth bypass.
+- **Upload Action:** Implement `/v3/action/hosted_file/upload`.
+    - Support both single and `List[UploadFile]`.
+    - Implement the Hash-Lookup-Before-Write logic.
+
+### Phase 4: Relational Cleanup & Linking
+- **Relational Delete Logic:**
+    - Implement `DELETE /v3/action/hosted_file/{id}`.
+    - Support `method` parameter: `hide`, `disable`, `delete` (hard).
+    - **Orphan Check:** Logic to count remaining links; if `rm_orphan=True` and count is 0, physically remove file and parent record.
+- **Fake Delete (Test Mode):**
+    - Specialized mode for testing frontend workflows without data loss.
+    - Logic:
+        1. Verify `hosted_file` record existence.
+        2. Verify physical file existence on server.
+        3. Verify `hosted_file_link` existence.
+        4. Return 200 OK success response *without* executing the actual SQL DELETE or `os.unlink`.
+
+---
+
+## 4. Technical Architecture
+
+### Standard CRUD Routes (Metadata)
+| Method | Endpoint | Description |
+| :--- | :--- | :--- |
+| `POST` | `/v3/crud/hosted_file/search` | Find files by hash, name, or account. |
+| `PATCH` | `/v3/crud/hosted_file/{id}` | Update title, description, or notes. |
+| `DELETE` | `/v3/crud/hosted_file/{id}` | Soft-delete (Hide) the file record. |
+
+### Specialized Action Routes (Binary)
+| Method | Endpoint | Description |
+| :--- | :--- | :--- |
+| `POST` | `/v3/action/hosted_file/upload` | Upload 1+ files; handles deduplication. |
+| `GET` | `/v3/action/hosted_file/{id}/download` | Stream binary data; supports range seeking. |
+| `DELETE` | `/v3/action/hosted_file/{id}` | Removes link; optionally deletes orphan file. |
+
+---
+
+## 5. Testing & Verification Strategy
+For every chunk, we will create/update:
+1. **Logic Test:** Unit test for the internal method (e.g., `lookup_file_hash`).
+2. **E2E Test:** Live network test against the dev API to verify real record creation and file persistence.
+3. **Security Test:** Verification of the "Bypass" modes (Site Key / URL Key).