diff --git a/assets/css/dashboard.css b/assets/css/dashboard.css
index ab8e62a..e91ea0d 100644
--- a/assets/css/dashboard.css
+++ b/assets/css/dashboard.css
@@ -5134,7 +5134,7 @@ table td:nth-child(4) {
         width: 85vw;
         max-width: 320px;
         height: 100vh;
-        z-index: 1001;
+        z-index: var(--z-modal);
         background: var(--bg-primary);
         transform: translateX(-100%);
         transition: transform 0.3s ease;
@@ -5636,7 +5636,7 @@ table td:nth-child(4) {
         max-height: 60vh;
         overflow-y: auto;
         border-radius: 0;
-        z-index: 1002;
+        z-index: var(--z-popover);
     }
 
     .admin-dropdown-content a {
diff --git a/assets/js/dashboard.js b/assets/js/dashboard.js
index c0c9a63..e6e4fb1 100644
--- a/assets/js/dashboard.js
+++ b/assets/js/dashboard.js
@@ -620,6 +620,7 @@ function saveTicket() {
  */
 function loadTemplate() {
     const templateSelect = document.getElementById('templateSelect');
+    if (!templateSelect) return;
     const templateId = templateSelect.value;
 
     if (!templateId) {
@@ -685,6 +686,7 @@ function loadTemplate() {
 
 function toggleSelectAll() {
     const selectAll = document.getElementById('selectAllCheckbox');
+    if (!selectAll) return;
     const checkboxes = document.querySelectorAll('.ticket-checkbox');
 
     checkboxes.forEach(checkbox => {
@@ -819,8 +821,8 @@ function showBulkAssignModal() {
                     </select>
                 </div>
                 <div class="lt-modal-footer">
-                    <button data-action="perform-bulk-assign" class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary">Assign</button>
-                    <button data-action="close-bulk-assign-modal" class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost">Cancel</button>
+                    <button data-action="perform-bulk-assign" class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary">ASSIGN</button>
+                    <button data-action="close-bulk-assign-modal" class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost">CANCEL</button>
                 </div>
             </div>
         </div>
@@ -921,8 +923,8 @@ function showBulkPriorityModal() {
                     </select>
                 </div>
                 <div class="lt-modal-footer">
-                    <button data-action="perform-bulk-priority" class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary">Update</button>
-                    <button data-action="close-bulk-priority-modal" class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost">Cancel</button>
+                    <button data-action="perform-bulk-priority" class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary">UPDATE</button>
+                    <button data-action="close-bulk-priority-modal" class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost">CANCEL</button>
                 </div>
             </div>
         </div>
@@ -1037,8 +1039,8 @@ function showBulkStatusModal() {
                     </select>
                 </div>
                 <div class="lt-modal-footer">
-                    <button data-action="perform-bulk-status" class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary">Update</button>
-                    <button data-action="close-bulk-status-modal" class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost">Cancel</button>
+                    <button data-action="perform-bulk-status" class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary">UPDATE</button>
+                    <button data-action="close-bulk-status-modal" class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost">CANCEL</button>
                 </div>
             </div>
         </div>
@@ -1116,8 +1118,8 @@ function showBulkDeleteModal() {
                     <p style="color: var(--terminal-green);">You are about to permanently delete ${ticketIds.length} ticket(s).<br>All associated comments and history will be lost.</p>
                 </div>
                 <div class="lt-modal-footer">
-                    <button data-action="perform-bulk-delete" class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary" style="background: var(--status-closed); border-color: var(--status-closed);">Delete Permanently</button>
-                    <button data-action="close-bulk-delete-modal" class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost">Cancel</button>
+                    <button data-action="perform-bulk-delete" class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary" style="background: var(--status-closed); border-color: var(--status-closed);">DELETE PERMANENTLY</button>
+                    <button data-action="close-bulk-delete-modal" class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost">CANCEL</button>
                 </div>
             </div>
         </div>
@@ -1209,8 +1211,8 @@ function showConfirmModal(title, message, type = 'warning', onConfirm, onCancel
                     <p style="color: var(--terminal-green); white-space: pre-line;">${safeMessage}</p>
                 </div>
                 <div class="lt-modal-footer">
-                    <button class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary" id="${modalId}_confirm">Confirm</button>
-                    <button class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost" id="${modalId}_cancel">Cancel</button>
+                    <button class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary" id="${modalId}_confirm">CONFIRM</button>
+                    <button class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost" id="${modalId}_cancel">CANCEL</button>
                 </div>
             </div>
         </div>
@@ -1261,8 +1263,8 @@ function showInputModal(title, label, placeholder = '', onSubmit, onCancel = nul
                     <input type="text" id="${inputId}" class="lt-input" placeholder="${safePlaceholder}" style="width: 100%;" />
                 </div>
                 <div class="lt-modal-footer">
-                    <button class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary" id="${modalId}_submit">Save</button>
-                    <button class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost" id="${modalId}_cancel">Cancel</button>
+                    <button class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary" id="${modalId}_submit">SAVE</button>
+                    <button class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost" id="${modalId}_cancel">CANCEL</button>
                 </div>
             </div>
         </div>
@@ -1317,8 +1319,8 @@ function quickStatusChange(ticketId, currentStatus) {
                     </select>
                 </div>
                 <div class="lt-modal-footer">
-                    <button data-action="perform-quick-status" data-ticket-id="${ticketId}" class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary">Update</button>
-                    <button data-action="close-quick-status-modal" class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost">Cancel</button>
+                    <button data-action="perform-quick-status" data-ticket-id="${ticketId}" class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary">UPDATE</button>
+                    <button data-action="close-quick-status-modal" class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost">CANCEL</button>
                 </div>
             </div>
         </div>
@@ -1384,8 +1386,8 @@ function quickAssign(ticketId) {
                     </select>
                 </div>
                 <div class="lt-modal-footer">
-                    <button data-action="perform-quick-assign" data-ticket-id="${ticketId}" class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary">Assign</button>
-                    <button data-action="close-quick-assign-modal" class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost">Cancel</button>
+                    <button data-action="perform-quick-assign" data-ticket-id="${ticketId}" class="lt-btn lt-btn-primary">ASSIGN</button>
+                    <button data-action="close-quick-assign-modal" class="lt-btn lt-btn-ghost">CANCEL</button>
                 </div>
             </div>
         </div>
diff --git a/assets/js/ticket.js b/assets/js/ticket.js
index 4fae089..5454997 100644
--- a/assets/js/ticket.js
+++ b/assets/js/ticket.js
@@ -680,8 +680,11 @@ function renderDependents(dependents) {
 
 function addDependency() {
     const ticketId = window.ticketData.id;
-    const dependsOnId = document.getElementById('dependencyTicketId').value.trim();
-    const dependencyType = document.getElementById('dependencyType').value;
+    const depIdEl = document.getElementById('dependencyTicketId');
+    const depTypeEl = document.getElementById('dependencyType');
+    if (!depIdEl || !depTypeEl) return;
+    const dependsOnId = depIdEl.value.trim();
+    const dependencyType = depTypeEl.value;
 
     if (!dependsOnId) {
         lt.toast.warning('Please enter a ticket ID', 3000);
@@ -705,7 +708,7 @@ function addDependency() {
     .then(data => {
         if (data.success) {
             lt.toast.success('Dependency added', 3000);
-            document.getElementById('dependencyTicketId').value = '';
+            if (depIdEl) depIdEl.value = '';
             loadDependencies();
         } else {
             lt.toast.error('Error: ' + (data.error || 'Unknown error'), 4000);
@@ -806,6 +809,7 @@ function handleFileUpload(files) {
     const progressDiv = document.getElementById('uploadProgress');
     const progressFill = document.getElementById('progressFill');
     const statusText = document.getElementById('uploadStatus');
+    if (!progressDiv || !progressFill || !statusText) return;
 
     let uploadedCount = 0;
     const totalFiles = files.length;
diff --git a/views/CreateTicketView.php b/views/CreateTicketView.php
index 670e9a9..621a694 100644
--- a/views/CreateTicketView.php
+++ b/views/CreateTicketView.php
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ $nonce = SecurityHeadersMiddleware::getNonce();
     <title>Create New Ticket</title>
     <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/images/favicon.png">
     <link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/css/base.css">
-    <link rel="stylesheet" href="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/css/dashboard.css?v=20260319c">
-    <link rel="stylesheet" href="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/css/ticket.css?v=20260319c">
+    <link rel="stylesheet" href="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/css/dashboard.css?v=20260319d">
+    <link rel="stylesheet" href="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/css/ticket.css?v=20260319d">
     <script nonce="<?php echo $nonce; ?>" src="/assets/js/base.js"></script>
     <script nonce="<?php echo $nonce; ?>" src="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/js/utils.js"></script>
     <script nonce="<?php echo $nonce; ?>" src="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/js/dashboard.js?v=20260205"></script>
diff --git a/views/DashboardView.php b/views/DashboardView.php
index 0d21b22..fc3cf67 100644
--- a/views/DashboardView.php
+++ b/views/DashboardView.php
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ $nonce = SecurityHeadersMiddleware::getNonce();
     <title>Ticket Dashboard</title>
     <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/images/favicon.png">
     <link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/css/base.css">
-    <link rel="stylesheet" href="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/css/dashboard.css?v=20260319c">
+    <link rel="stylesheet" href="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/css/dashboard.css?v=20260319d">
     <script nonce="<?php echo $nonce; ?>" src="/assets/js/base.js"></script>
     <script nonce="<?php echo $nonce; ?>" src="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/js/ascii-banner.js"></script>
     <script nonce="<?php echo $nonce; ?>" src="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/js/toast.js"></script>
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ $nonce = SecurityHeadersMiddleware::getNonce();
                 <span class="user-name">[ <?php echo htmlspecialchars(strtoupper($GLOBALS['currentUser']['display_name'] ?? $GLOBALS['currentUser']['username'])); ?> ]</span>
                 <?php if ($GLOBALS['currentUser']['is_admin']): ?>
                     <div class="admin-dropdown">
-                        <button class="admin-badge" data-action="toggle-admin-menu" aria-label="Admin menu" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">[ ADMIN ▼ ]</button>
+                        <button class="admin-badge" data-action="toggle-admin-menu" aria-label="Admin menu" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">ADMIN ▼</button>
                         <div class="admin-dropdown-content" id="adminDropdown">
                             <a href="/admin/templates">TEMPLATES</a>
                             <a href="/admin/workflow">WORKFLOW</a>
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ $nonce = SecurityHeadersMiddleware::getNonce();
                 <button type="submit" class="btn search-btn">Search</button>
                 <button type="button" class="btn btn-secondary" data-action="open-advanced-search" title="Advanced Search">FILTER</button>
                 <?php if (isset($_GET['search']) && !empty($_GET['search'])): ?>
-                    <a href="?" class="clear-search-btn" aria-label="Clear search">✗</a>
+                    <a href="?" class="clear-search-btn" aria-label="Clear search">[ X ]</a>
                 <?php endif; ?>
             </form>
         </div>
@@ -287,12 +287,12 @@ $nonce = SecurityHeadersMiddleware::getNonce();
         <!-- Center: Actions + Count -->
         <div class="toolbar-center">
             <div class="view-toggle">
-                <button id="tableViewBtn" class="view-btn active" data-action="set-view-mode" data-mode="table" title="Table View" aria-label="Table view" aria-pressed="true">≡</button>
-                <button id="cardViewBtn" class="view-btn" data-action="set-view-mode" data-mode="card" title="Kanban View" aria-label="Kanban view" aria-pressed="false">▦</button>
+                <button id="tableViewBtn" class="view-btn active" data-action="set-view-mode" data-mode="table" title="Table View" aria-label="Table view" aria-pressed="true">[ = ]</button>
+                <button id="cardViewBtn" class="view-btn" data-action="set-view-mode" data-mode="card" title="Kanban View" aria-label="Kanban view" aria-pressed="false">[ # ]</button>
             </div>
             <button data-action="navigate" data-url="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['BASE_URL']; ?>/ticket/create" class="btn create-ticket">+ New Ticket</button>
             <div class="export-dropdown" id="exportDropdown" style="display: none;">
-                <button class="btn" data-action="toggle-export-menu" aria-label="Export selected tickets" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">↓ Export Selected (<span id="exportCount">0</span>)</button>
+                <button class="btn" data-action="toggle-export-menu" aria-label="Export selected tickets" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">Export Selected (<span id="exportCount">0</span>)</button>
                 <div class="export-dropdown-content" id="exportDropdownContent">
                     <a href="#" data-action="export-tickets" data-format="csv">CSV</a>
                     <a href="#" data-action="export-tickets" data-format="json">JSON</a>
diff --git a/views/TicketView.php b/views/TicketView.php
index 41f511f..3abe482 100644
--- a/views/TicketView.php
+++ b/views/TicketView.php
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ $nonce = SecurityHeadersMiddleware::getNonce();
     <title>Ticket #<?php echo $ticket['ticket_id']; ?></title>
     <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/images/favicon.png">
     <link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/css/base.css">
-    <link rel="stylesheet" href="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/css/dashboard.css?v=20260319c">
-    <link rel="stylesheet" href="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/css/ticket.css?v=20260319c">
+    <link rel="stylesheet" href="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/css/dashboard.css?v=20260319d">
+    <link rel="stylesheet" href="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/css/ticket.css?v=20260319d">
     <script nonce="<?php echo $nonce; ?>" src="/assets/js/base.js"></script>
     <script nonce="<?php echo $nonce; ?>" src="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/js/toast.js"></script>
     <script nonce="<?php echo $nonce; ?>" src="<?php echo $GLOBALS['config']['ASSETS_URL']; ?>/js/utils.js"></script>
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ $nonce = SecurityHeadersMiddleware::getNonce();
                                 </select>
                             </div>
                             <button id="editButton" class="btn">Edit Ticket</button>
-                            <button id="cloneButton" class="btn btn-secondary" title="Create a copy of this ticket">Clone</button>
+                            <button id="cloneButton" class="btn btn-secondary" title="Create a copy of this ticket">CLONE</button>
                         </div>
                     </div>
                 </div>
@@ -274,11 +274,11 @@ $nonce = SecurityHeadersMiddleware::getNonce();
         <div class="ascii-section-header">Content Sections</div>
         <div class="ascii-content">
             <nav class="ticket-tabs" role="tablist" aria-label="Ticket content sections">
-                <button class="tab-btn active" id="description-tab-btn" data-tab="description" role="tab" aria-selected="true" aria-controls="description-tab">Description</button>
-                <button class="tab-btn" id="comments-tab-btn" data-tab="comments" role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="comments-tab">Comments</button>
-                <button class="tab-btn" id="attachments-tab-btn" data-tab="attachments" role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="attachments-tab">Attachments</button>
-                <button class="tab-btn" id="dependencies-tab-btn" data-tab="dependencies" role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="dependencies-tab">Dependencies</button>
-                <button class="tab-btn" id="activity-tab-btn" data-tab="activity" role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="activity-tab">Activity</button>
+                <button class="tab-btn active" id="description-tab-btn" data-tab="description" role="tab" aria-selected="true" aria-controls="description-tab">DESCRIPTION</button>
+                <button class="tab-btn" id="comments-tab-btn" data-tab="comments" role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="comments-tab">COMMENTS</button>
+                <button class="tab-btn" id="attachments-tab-btn" data-tab="attachments" role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="attachments-tab">ATTACHMENTS</button>
+                <button class="tab-btn" id="dependencies-tab-btn" data-tab="dependencies" role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="dependencies-tab">DEPENDENCIES</button>
+                <button class="tab-btn" id="activity-tab-btn" data-tab="activity" role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="activity-tab">ACTIVITY</button>
             </nav>
         </div>
 
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ $nonce = SecurityHeadersMiddleware::getNonce();
                                     <span class="toggle-label">Preview Markdown</span>
                                 </div>
                             </div>
-                            <button id="addCommentBtn" class="btn">Add Comment</button>
+                            <button id="addCommentBtn" class="btn">ADD COMMENT</button>
                         </div>
                         <div id="markdownPreview" class="markdown-preview" style="display: none;"></div>
                                 </div>
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ $nonce = SecurityHeadersMiddleware::getNonce();
                                         echo "<div class='comment-actions'>";
                                         // Reply button (max depth of 3)
                                         if ($threadDepth < 3) {
-                                            echo "<button type='button' class='comment-action-btn reply-btn' data-action='reply-comment' data-comment-id='{$commentId}' data-user=\"" . htmlspecialchars($displayName, ENT_QUOTES) . "\" title='Reply' aria-label='Reply to comment'>↩</button>";
+                                            echo "<button type='button' class='comment-action-btn reply-btn' data-action='reply-comment' data-comment-id='{$commentId}' data-user=\"" . htmlspecialchars($displayName, ENT_QUOTES) . "\" title='Reply' aria-label='Reply to comment'>[ &lt;&lt; ]</button>";
                                         }
                                         // Edit/Delete buttons for owner or admin
                                         if ($canModify) {
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ $nonce = SecurityHeadersMiddleware::getNonce();
                                         <option value="relates_to">Relates To</option>
                                         <option value="duplicates">Duplicates</option>
                                     </select>
-                                    <button id="addDependencyBtn" class="btn" aria-label="Add ticket dependency">Add</button>
+                                    <button id="addDependencyBtn" class="btn" aria-label="Add ticket dependency">ADD</button>
                                 </div>
                             </div>