Protocol Time without Dynamics Ψ-τ as an Order of Retention Beyond Physical Time

This paper introduces Protocol Time (Ψ-τ) as a non-metric order structure governing retention in post-dynamical systems operating under the Non-Violation Protocol (Ψ-NVP). It is shown that genuine retention does not require temporal dynamics, energetic flow, or duration, but only the existence of an admissible ordering of transformations that preserves Non-Violation class invariants after withdrawal. Ψ-τ is defined as a partial order over system states, indexing admissible protocol steps without invoking physical time, causality, or dynamical evolution. The paper proves that retention is possible without physical time whenever a non-collapsible NV-invariant exists and the protocol order preserves class-level distinguishability. This result establishes Ψ-τ as a foundational structure of the ψ-Architecture and, together with retained resonance, completes the axiomatic core of Volume III (Ψ-NVP), providing a formal basis for post-dynamical physics, ontology, and ethical observation.