diff --git a/roles/base/defaults/main.yml b/roles/base/defaults/main.yml
index 301dee7..774e911 100644
--- a/roles/base/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/base/defaults/main.yml
@@ -11,6 +11,14 @@ base__firewall_rollback_timeout: 45  # seconds before the auto-revert fires on a
 base__firewall_confirm_timeout: 20   # seconds to re-establish a fresh connection post-apply
 base__firewall_dropin_dir: /etc/nftables.d
 base__firewall_apply: true           # set false to render+validate without applying (CI/Molecule)
+base__firewall_input_only: false     # true → the forward chain is `policy accept` (host-local
+                                     # INPUT filtering only). For hosts that forward/route
+                                     # container or NAT traffic (the control node's Docker +
+                                     # libvirt-NAT) where a forward default-deny would break
+                                     # them. Real service hosts keep this false (forward drop).
+base__firewall_admin_addrs: []       # extra LAN source IPs allowed to SSH, besides wt0 +
+                                     # ssh-from-control. For an operator workstation reaching
+                                     # the host over the LAN (no mesh). Key-gated. (ADR-021)
 
 # SSH hardening + fail2ban (ADR-002) — `hardening` concern.
 base__ssh_password_authentication: "no"
diff --git a/roles/base/molecule/default/converge.yml b/roles/base/molecule/default/converge.yml
index 88afbae..6ab934d 100644
--- a/roles/base/molecule/default/converge.yml
+++ b/roles/base/molecule/default/converge.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
   vars:
     base__firewall_apply: false
     base__firewall_control_addr: 10.10.0.99   # test control-node LAN address
+    base__firewall_admin_addrs:
+      - "10.30.0.77"   # fixture: an operator-workstation LAN source (admin-addr SSH allow)
     # Exercise the mesh concern's include path with the live actions gated off, so it
     # runs hermetically (no coordinator/key needed) and must be a clean no-op.
     base__mesh_enabled: true
diff --git a/roles/base/molecule/default/verify.yml b/roles/base/molecule/default/verify.yml
index 2557f69..d3a7741 100644
--- a/roles/base/molecule/default/verify.yml
+++ b/roles/base/molecule/default/verify.yml
@@ -51,6 +51,20 @@
           - "'include \"/etc/nftables.d/*.nft\"' in nft"
         fail_msg: "missing drop-in include hook"
 
+    - name: Assert the forward chain defaults to policy drop (input_only off)
+      ansible.builtin.assert:
+        that:
+          - "'hook forward priority 0; policy drop;' in nft"
+        fail_msg: >-
+          forward chain must default to policy drop when base__firewall_input_only is
+          false (container isolation stays the norm on real service hosts)
+
+    - name: Assert the admin-addr SSH allow rule (operator workstation on the LAN)
+      ansible.builtin.assert:
+        that:
+          - "'ip saddr 10.30.0.77 tcp dport 22 accept' in nft"
+        fail_msg: "missing admin-addr SSH allow rule from base__firewall_admin_addrs"
+
     - name: Syntax-check the rendered ruleset (no apply)
       ansible.builtin.command: nft -c -f /etc/nftables.conf
       changed_when: false
diff --git a/roles/base/templates/nftables.conf.j2 b/roles/base/templates/nftables.conf.j2
index b85ff86..ce33b53 100644
--- a/roles/base/templates/nftables.conf.j2
+++ b/roles/base/templates/nftables.conf.j2
@@ -12,13 +12,16 @@ table inet filter {
 {% if base__firewall_control_addr %}
     ip saddr {{ base__firewall_control_addr }} tcp dport {{ base__firewall_ssh_port }} accept
 {% endif %}
+{% for addr in base__firewall_admin_addrs %}
+    ip saddr {{ addr }} tcp dport {{ base__firewall_ssh_port }} accept
+{% endfor %}
     ip protocol icmp accept
     ip6 nexthdr ipv6-icmp accept
 {% for r in base__firewall_resolved %}
     ip saddr { {{ r.sources | join(', ') }} } {{ r.proto }} dport {{ r.port }} accept
 {% endfor %}
   }
-  chain forward { type filter hook forward priority 0; policy drop; }
+  chain forward { type filter hook forward priority 0; policy {{ 'accept' if base__firewall_input_only | bool else 'drop' }}; }
   chain output  { type filter hook output  priority 0; policy accept; }
 }