diff --git a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-patch.py b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-patch.py
index 5b9ff14c..97b83c10 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-patch.py
+++ b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-patch.py
@@ -750,6 +750,73 @@ replace_exact(
         return _handle_tts(handler, parsed)
 ''',
 )
+# The chat router's session-continuity poller renders whatever /api/session
+# answers. Its 409 branch ("This session is unavailable to this account.")
+# is only ever correct when the root-profile alias set is actually known —
+# but list_profiles_api() is a hermes_cli subprocess call that fails
+# transiently (cold pod after a roll, load spikes), and the pinned
+# _is_root_profile() treats that failure as "not a root alias", flipping
+# _profiles_match() to a false mismatch and painting the bogus banner over
+# the input bar until the next successful listing. Two minimal grafts:
+# answer alias checks from the last known alias set on listing failure, and
+# never claim a default-vs-named mismatch while the alias set is unconfirmed.
+profiles = ROOT / "api/profiles.py"
+replace_exact(
+    profiles,
+    '''    except Exception:
+        logger.debug("Failed to list profiles for root-profile lookup", exc_info=True)
+        return False
+''',
+    '''    except Exception:
+        logger.debug("Failed to list profiles for root-profile lookup", exc_info=True)
+        # Atlas voice patch: a transient listing failure must not deny a name
+        # that was already confirmed as a root alias — answer from the last
+        # known alias set instead of failing the alias outright.
+        with _root_profile_name_cache_lock:
+            return name in _root_profile_name_cache
+''',
+)
+replace_exact(
+    profiles,
+    "def _is_root_profile(name: str) -> bool:\n",
+    '''def _root_profile_names_confirmed() -> bool:
+    """True once list_profiles_api() has successfully populated the alias set.
+
+    Atlas voice patch: lets _profiles_match() distinguish "these profiles are
+    definitely different" from "the root-alias equivalence could not be
+    checked yet" (cold cache right after a pod roll, or a failing hermes_cli
+    listing), which previously produced transient /api/session 409s.
+    """
+    with _root_profile_name_cache_lock:
+        return _root_profile_name_cache_loaded
+
+
+def _is_root_profile(name: str) -> bool:
+''',
+)
+replace_exact(
+    profiles,
+    '''    # Cross-alias the renamed root.
+    if _is_root_profile(row) and _is_root_profile(active):
+        return True
+    return False
+''',
+    '''    # Cross-alias the renamed root.
+    if _is_root_profile(row) and _is_root_profile(active):
+        return True
+    # Atlas voice patch: while the root alias set is unconfirmed (cold cache
+    # after a pod roll, hermes_cli listing failure) a pair involving the
+    # 'default' alias cannot be *proven* mismatched — the named side may be
+    # the renamed root. Fail open for that pair only: a mismatch between two
+    # named profiles is still denied, and exact scoping resumes with the
+    # first successful listing. This removes the transient /api/session 409
+    # that rendered a false "unavailable to this account" banner.
+    if "default" in (row, active) and not _root_profile_names_confirmed():
+        return True
+    return False
+''',
+)
+
 marker = "    # ── ElevenLabs TTS ──────────────────────────────────────────────────\n"
 atlas = '''    # ── Atlas private Jetson TTS ─────────────────────────────────────────
     if engine == "atlas":
diff --git a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-voice.css b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-voice.css
index b587a124..34a96e87 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-voice.css
+++ b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-voice.css
@@ -463,13 +463,36 @@
   flex-direction: column;
   gap: 10px;
   width: min(100%, 40rem);
-  max-height: 30vh;
-  overflow: hidden;
+  min-height: 0;
   text-align: center;
 }
 
+/* Each caption is its own bounded scroll region: the user transcript and the
+   reply overflow independently, scroll by touch inside the overlay without
+   moving the page behind (overscroll-behavior: contain), stay keyboard
+   scrollable via tabindex, and fade at the top edge so clipped history reads
+   as scrollable. Auto-follow of the streaming tail lives in atlas-voice.js
+   (data-follow, per region). */
+.voice-conversation-caption-user,
+.voice-conversation-caption-assistant {
+  overflow-y: auto;
+  touch-action: pan-y;
+  -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
+  overscroll-behavior: contain;
+  scrollbar-width: thin;
+  -webkit-mask-image: linear-gradient(180deg, transparent 0, #000 18px, #000 100%);
+  mask-image: linear-gradient(180deg, transparent 0, #000 18px, #000 100%);
+}
+
+.voice-conversation-caption-user:focus-visible,
+.voice-conversation-caption-assistant:focus-visible {
+  outline: 2px solid rgb(var(--voice-accent));
+  outline-offset: 2px;
+}
+
 .voice-conversation-caption-user {
   margin: 0;
+  max-height: 22vh;
   font-size: 14px;
   line-height: 1.5;
   color: rgba(178, 196, 214, 0.88);
@@ -478,6 +501,7 @@
 
 .voice-conversation-caption-assistant {
   margin: 0;
+  max-height: 38vh;
   font-size: 16px;
   line-height: 1.6;
   color: rgba(240, 247, 255, 0.95);
@@ -550,7 +574,8 @@
 
 @media (max-width: 640px) {
   .voice-conversation { gap: 18px; }
-  .voice-conversation-captions { max-height: 34vh; }
+  .voice-conversation-caption-user { max-height: 24vh; }
+  .voice-conversation-caption-assistant { max-height: 34vh; }
 }
 
 /* Reduced motion: static orb states — the accent color and the state caption
diff --git a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-voice.js b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-voice.js
index fed8ffc1..94bf648e 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-voice.js
+++ b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-voice.js
@@ -112,6 +112,11 @@
   // bound to that turn's generation token and consumed exactly once.
   let sttLanguage='';
   let sttLanguageToken=-1;
+  // Sticky per-hands-free-session language: set by the private Whisper
+  // detection of the user's own speech (or a strong reply-text signal on a
+  // detection-less turn), consumed as the NEXT streaming STT session's bias
+  // and as the thinking-cue locale. Cleared on activate/deactivate.
+  let sessionLanguage='';
   const TTS_LANGUAGES=['en','ru','es'];
   const originalAutoRead=window.autoReadLastAssistant;
   const originalApplyPreference=window._applyVoiceModePref;
@@ -138,6 +143,37 @@
     return language;
   }
 
+  const SPANISH_ORTHOGRAPHY=/[áéíóúñü¡¿]/i;
+  const SPANISH_STOPWORDS=/\b(?:el|la|los|las|un|una|es|está|qué|para|por|con|pero|como|más|sí|gracias|hola|puedo|también|muy|este|esta|todo|bien)\b/g;
+
+  function strongReplyLanguage(text){
+    // Script-level certainty only: Cyrillic text is Russian; Spanish
+    // orthography (accents, ñ, inverted punctuation) is Spanish. Plain-ASCII
+    // text yields no signal, so an English reply never flips a trusted
+    // STT-detected voice.
+    const sample=String(text||'').slice(0,400);
+    if(/[Ѐ-ӿ]/.test(sample)) return 'ru';
+    if(SPANISH_ORTHOGRAPHY.test(sample)) return 'es';
+    return '';
+  }
+
+  function detectReplyLanguage(text){
+    // Lightweight reply-language heuristic for turns without a trusted STT
+    // detection: script evidence first, then Spanish stopword density (an
+    // accent-free Spanish sentence still routes to the Spanish voice).
+    // Returns '' for English/unknown, which the private TTS service resolves
+    // to its own English default voice.
+    const strong=strongReplyLanguage(text);
+    if(strong) return strong;
+    const sample=String(text||'').slice(0,400).toLowerCase();
+    const words=sample.split(/\s+/).filter(Boolean);
+    if(words.length>=4){
+      const matches=(sample.match(SPANISH_STOPWORDS)||[]).length;
+      if(matches>=2&&matches/words.length>=0.12) return 'es';
+    }
+    return '';
+  }
+
   function toast(message){
     if(typeof window.showToast==='function') window.showToast(message,3000);
   }
@@ -194,12 +230,32 @@
     conversation.stateEl.textContent=customLabel||STATE_LABELS[next]||'';
   }
 
+  function updateCaptionRegion(element,text,limit){
+    // Captions are bounded scrollable regions: keep following the streaming
+    // tail unless the user scrolled up inside this region (data-follow='0',
+    // maintained by the scroll listener installed at overlay build time).
+    const value=String(text||'').slice(-limit);
+    element.textContent=value;
+    if(!value&&element.dataset) element.dataset.follow='1';
+    if((!element.dataset||element.dataset.follow!=='0')&&typeof element.scrollHeight==='number'){
+      try{element.scrollTop=element.scrollHeight;}catch(_){ }
+    }
+  }
+
+  function attachCaptionScroll(element){
+    if(!element.addEventListener) return;
+    element.addEventListener('scroll',function(){
+      const gap=(element.scrollHeight||0)-(element.scrollTop||0)-(element.clientHeight||0);
+      if(element.dataset) element.dataset.follow=gap<=24?'1':'0';
+    });
+  }
+
   function setConversationUserCaption(text){
-    if(conversation) conversation.userCaption.textContent=String(text||'').slice(-600);
+    if(conversation) updateCaptionRegion(conversation.userCaption,text,4000);
   }
 
   function setConversationAssistantCaption(text){
-    if(conversation) conversation.assistantCaption.textContent=String(text||'').slice(-900);
+    if(conversation) updateCaptionRegion(conversation.assistantCaption,text,9000);
   }
 
   function setConversationPlaying(playing){
@@ -261,8 +317,13 @@
       orb.appendChild(conversationNode('span','voice-conversation-orb-ring'));
       const stateEl=conversationNode('div','voice-conversation-state',{'aria-hidden':'true'});
       const captions=conversationNode('div','voice-conversation-captions',{'aria-live':'polite'});
-      const userCaption=conversationNode('p','voice-conversation-caption-user');
-      const assistantCaption=conversationNode('p','voice-conversation-caption-assistant');
+      // Each caption is its own bounded, independently scrollable region
+      // (keyboard focusable, touch scrollable); streaming keeps following the
+      // tail until the user scrolls up inside that region.
+      const userCaption=conversationNode('p','voice-conversation-caption-user',{tabindex:'0'});
+      const assistantCaption=conversationNode('p','voice-conversation-caption-assistant',{tabindex:'0'});
+      attachCaptionScroll(userCaption);
+      attachCaptionScroll(assistantCaption);
       captions.appendChild(userCaption);
       captions.appendChild(assistantCaption);
       const controls=conversationNode('div','voice-conversation-controls');
@@ -328,6 +389,7 @@
 
   function cancelSpeechTurn(){
     if(!speechTurn) return;
+    cancelSpeakingIdleFallback(speechTurn);
     speechTurn.cancelled=true;
     speechTurn.final=true;
     while(speechTurn.waiters.length) speechTurn.waiters.shift()(null);
@@ -453,6 +515,18 @@
     if(ducked) indicator.classList.add('is-ducked'); else indicator.classList.remove('is-ducked');
   }
 
+  function playbackAudible(){
+    // True only while audio is actually sounding. A streaming PCM session
+    // keeps its worklet node alive across sentence chunks and between the
+    // speech segments of one turn; the buffered frames the worklet reports
+    // decide whether it is audible right now.
+    if(currentAudio) return true;
+    if(thinkingCue&&thinkingCue.node) return true;
+    const session=playbackSession;
+    if(session&&session.node) return session.bufferedFrames>0&&!session.playbackEnded;
+    return indicator.classList.contains('is-playing');
+  }
+
   function disposeBargeResources(monitor,keepCapture){
     if(!monitor) return;
     monitor.cancelled=true;
@@ -570,6 +644,7 @@
     clearErrorTimer();
     removeConversationOverlay();
     clearSttLanguage();
+    sessionLanguage='';
     suppressAutoRead=false;
     pendingStitch=null;
     lastSentTranscript=null;
@@ -595,25 +670,117 @@
     },delay||500);
   }
 
+  function resyncCapture(token,statusLabel){
+    // Full capture-turn resync: cancel any streaming STT session, drop the
+    // lookback/pending buffers and start a fresh capture turn on the hot
+    // microphone. Used after an errored turn and by barge-in edge cases
+    // where the previous stream state is no longer trustworthy.
+    if(!active||token!==generation) return;
+    stopCapture();
+    startListening(token);
+    setState('listening',statusLabel);
+  }
+
+  function handleAssistantResponseError(token){
+    // An error/system envelope (cancellation notice, provider failure) is a
+    // transcript artifact, not a reply: never feed it to TTS or the reply
+    // caption, show a brief non-spoken state instead, and resynchronize
+    // capture so the next utterance starts a clean streaming turn.
+    thinkingSession=null;
+    thinkingTurnId='';
+    clearSttLanguage();
+    stopResponseObserver();
+    cancelThinkingCues();
+    cancelSpeechTurn();
+    stopPlayback();
+    pendingStitch=null;
+    lastSentTranscript=null;
+    clearBargeCancellation();
+    setConversationAssistantCaption('');
+    resyncCapture(token,'Something went wrong — listening');
+  }
+
   function assistantRows(){
     return document.querySelectorAll('.msg-row[data-role="assistant"], .assistant-segment[data-raw-text]');
   }
 
-  function readAssistantRow(row){
-    if(!row) return '';
-    if(row.dataset&&typeof row.dataset.rawText==='string') return row.dataset.rawText;
-    return typeof row.textContent==='string'?row.textContent:'';
+  function assistantTurnOf(row){
+    // Resolve a matched node to its whole turn container so multi-segment
+    // turns (interim messages around tool calls) are read as one response.
+    if(row&&typeof row.closest==='function'){
+      const turn=row.closest('.msg-row[data-role="assistant"]');
+      if(turn) return turn;
+    }
+    return row;
+  }
+
+  function segmentIsHidden(segment){
+    if(!segment) return true;
+    if(segment.hidden===true) return true;
+    return !!(typeof segment.getAttribute==='function'&&segment.getAttribute('aria-hidden')==='true');
+  }
+
+  function segmentIsError(segment){
+    // Error/system envelopes: the renderer stamps data-error="1" on segments
+    // matching its error patterns, and provider errors and cancellation
+    // notices carry a .provider-error-details block inside the body.
+    if(!segment) return false;
+    if(segment.dataset&&segment.dataset.error==='1') return true;
+    return !!(typeof segment.querySelector==='function'&&segment.querySelector('.provider-error-details'));
+  }
+
+  function readSegmentBody(segment){
+    if(!segment) return '';
+    if(segment.dataset&&typeof segment.dataset.rawText==='string') return segment.dataset.rawText;
+    // Scrape only message BODY text — never the avatar letter, author name,
+    // "Processed Ns" worklog chips or footer controls that share the row.
+    if(typeof segment.querySelectorAll==='function'){
+      const bodies=segment.querySelectorAll('.msg-body');
+      if(bodies&&bodies.length){
+        return Array.prototype.map.call(bodies,function(body){return body.textContent||'';}).join('\n');
+      }
+    }
+    return typeof segment.textContent==='string'?segment.textContent:'';
+  }
+
+  function readAssistantTurn(turn){
+    // {text, error}: body-only text of every visible answer segment in the
+    // turn, plus whether any segment is an error/system envelope.
+    if(!turn) return {text:'',error:false};
+    let error=false;
+    const parts=[];
+    const segments=(typeof turn.querySelectorAll==='function')?turn.querySelectorAll('.assistant-segment'):null;
+    if(segments&&segments.length){
+      Array.prototype.forEach.call(segments,function(segment){
+        if(segmentIsHidden(segment)) return;
+        if(segmentIsError(segment)){error=true;return;}
+        const value=readSegmentBody(segment);
+        if(value&&value.trim()) parts.push(value.trim());
+      });
+    }else if(segmentIsError(turn)){
+      error=true;
+    }else{
+      const value=readSegmentBody(turn);
+      if(value&&value.trim()) parts.push(value.trim());
+    }
+    return {text:cleanForSpeech(parts.join('\n\n')),error:error};
   }
 
   function rememberAssistantBaseline(){
     const rows=assistantRows();
-    const row=rows.length?rows[rows.length-1]:null;
-    assistantBaseline={row:row,text:readAssistantRow(row),count:rows.length};
+    const turn=rows.length?assistantTurnOf(rows[rows.length-1]):null;
+    assistantBaseline={row:turn,text:readAssistantTurn(turn).text,count:rows.length};
   }
 
   async function settleBargeCancellation(token){
     const cancellation=bargeCancelPromise;
     if(!cancellation) return true;
+    if(!cancellation.streamId){
+      // Nothing was actually in flight to cancel: a stale busy flag left by
+      // an errored turn must never hold the send in a dead settle wait.
+      if(bargeCancelPromise===cancellation) bargeCancelPromise=null;
+      return true;
+    }
     try{await cancellation.promise;}catch(_){ }
     const deadline=Date.now()+10000;
     while(active&&token===generation&&Date.now()<deadline){
@@ -642,7 +809,22 @@
     const sent=lastSentTranscript;
     lastSentTranscript=null;
     if(!sent||!sent.text) return;
-    pendingStitch={text:sent.text,at:Date.now()};
+    // The playback queue knows exactly where the user stopped listening: the
+    // chunk being spoken (or the last fully spoken one) becomes the cut
+    // marker appended to the stitched follow-up message.
+    const turn=speechTurn;
+    const cut=turn?String(turn.speakingChunk||turn.lastSpokenChunk||''):'';
+    pendingStitch={text:sent.text,at:Date.now(),cut:cut};
+  }
+
+  function voiceCutMarker(cut){
+    // Exactly one compact machine-readable line, appended to a stitched
+    // interruption, telling the model where its spoken reply was cut off so
+    // it can resume naturally instead of re-answering from the top.
+    const tail=String(cut||'').replace(/\s+/g,' ').replace(/"/g,"'").trim();
+    if(!tail) return '';
+    const bounded=tail.length>120?tail.slice(tail.length-120):tail;
+    return '\n[voice interruption: you were cut off after "'+bounded+'"]';
   }
 
   async function sendTranscript(transcript,token,language,turnId){
@@ -662,7 +844,7 @@
     // restated as one stitched message, so the model answers the full thought.
     const stitch=(pendingStitch&&pendingStitch.text&&(Date.now()-pendingStitch.at)<=STITCH_WINDOW_MS)?pendingStitch:null;
     pendingStitch=null;
-    composer.value=stitch?stitch.text+' '+text:text;
+    composer.value=stitch?stitch.text+' '+text+voiceCutMarker(stitch.cut):text;
     if(typeof window.autoResize==='function') window.autoResize();
     setConversationUserCaption(composer.value);
     setConversationAssistantCaption('');
@@ -675,19 +857,34 @@
     if(!cancellationSettled){
       pendingStitch=stitch;
       toast('The previous response did not stop. Please repeat your interruption.');
-      restartSoon(token,250);
+      // The stream state is now suspect: rebuild the capture turn instead of
+      // resuming a session whose server-side epoch may be stale.
+      resyncCapture(token);
       return;
     }
     thinkingSession=(typeof S!=='undefined'&&S.session)?S.session.session_id:null;
     thinkingTurnId=turnId||captureTurnId||String(token)+'-'+String(++turnSequence);
     rememberAssistantBaseline();
     rememberSttLanguage(language,token);
+    // The user's detected speech language is the sticky hands-free session
+    // language: it biases the next streaming STT session and localizes the
+    // thinking cues until the user audibly switches again.
+    if(language){
+      const switched=language!==sessionLanguage;
+      sessionLanguage=language;
+      // Continuous capture already opened the next session (with the
+      // previous bias) before this turn's detection arrived: restart it with
+      // the switched language, but only while it has heard nothing yet.
+      if(switched&&captureActive&&streamingStt&&typeof streamingStt.latestPartial==='function'&&!streamingStt.latestPartial()){
+        startListening(generation,{preserveDisplay:true});
+      }
+    }
     if(typeof window.send==='function'){
       lastSentTranscript={text:composer.value,token:token};
       window.send();
       suppressAutoRead=false;
       startResponseObserver(token);
-      scheduleThinkingCues(token,language,thinkingTurnId);
+      scheduleThinkingCues(token,language||sessionLanguage,thinkingTurnId);
     }
   }
 
@@ -798,6 +995,7 @@
     let workletReady=false;
     let partialRevision=-1;
     let lastPreflightText='';
+    let lastPartialText='';
     let queue=[];
     let queuedBytes=0;
     let flushTimer=null;
@@ -862,7 +1060,9 @@
       return null;
     }
     socket.onopen=function(){
-      sendJson({type:'start',turn_id:turnId,format:'pcm_s16le',sample_rate:16000,language:'auto'});
+      // Bias recognition toward the session's sticky language the moment the
+      // user has audibly switched; 'auto' remains the cold-start default.
+      sendJson({type:'start',turn_id:turnId,format:'pcm_s16le',sample_rate:16000,language:sessionLanguage||'auto'});
       flush();
     };
     socket.onmessage=function(event){
@@ -877,6 +1077,10 @@
           const stable=String(payload.stable_transcript||'').trim();
           const provisional=String(payload.transcript||'').trim();
           const visible=stable||provisional;
+          // The newest rolling partial also feeds the dynamic endpoint below,
+          // so it is tracked regardless of the display-only gating that keeps
+          // the label and captions quiet outside the listening state.
+          if(visible) lastPartialText=visible;
           if(visible&&active&&captureTurnId===turnId&&state==='listening'){
             const preview=visible.length>72?visible.slice(0,69)+'…':visible;
             label.textContent='Listening · '+preview+(stable?'':' · provisional');
@@ -904,6 +1108,7 @@
 
     return {
       finalPromise:finalPromise,
+      latestPartial:function(){return lastPartialText;},
       setWorkletReady:function(value){workletReady=value;},
       push:function(samples){
         if(cancelled||committed||!workletReady) return;
@@ -1149,7 +1354,7 @@
         for(let index=0;index<samples.length;index+=1){const value=(samples[index]-128)/128;energy+=value*value;}
         const rms=Math.sqrt(energy/samples.length);
         const now=Date.now();
-        const playbackActive=indicator.classList.contains('is-playing')||!!currentAudio||!!(playbackSession&&playbackSession.node)||!!(thinkingCue&&thinkingCue.node);
+        const playbackActive=playbackAudible();
         if(playbackActive&&!playbackWasActive){
           // AEC needs a brief convergence window when local speech starts. PCM
           // lookback preserves a real interruption spoken during this guard.
@@ -1387,7 +1592,7 @@
         // AEC nothing counts as speech at all, and with AEC a post-playback
         // arming delay plus the sustained-frame requirement below mirror the
         // conservative energy monitor this path supersedes.
-        const playbackLive=indicator.classList.contains('is-playing')||!!currentAudio||!!(playbackSession&&playbackSession.node)||!!(thinkingCue&&thinkingCue.node);
+        const playbackLive=playbackAudible();
         if(playbackLive&&!playbackWasLive){
           bargeArmAt=now+(state==='thinking'?150:450);
         }else if(!playbackLive&&playbackWasLive){
@@ -1433,8 +1638,15 @@
           speculative=true;
         }
         // A young utterance holds its endpoint longer: pausing to think right
-        // after the first word must not send a one-word fragment.
-        const endpointSilenceMs=speechMs<VAD_COMMITTED_SPEECH_MS?Math.max(silenceMs,VAD_EARLY_SILENCE_MS):silenceMs;
+        // after the first word must not send a one-word fragment. When the
+        // streaming partial already reads as a plausibly complete utterance
+        // (>=3 words, or terminal punctuation), endpoint at the base window
+        // instead so short commands are not delayed by the clipping guard —
+        // the long hold remains only for 1-2 word partials.
+        const partialText=streamingStt&&streamingStt.latestPartial?streamingStt.latestPartial():'';
+        const partialWords=partialText?partialText.split(/\s+/).filter(Boolean).length:0;
+        const partialComplete=partialWords>=3||(partialWords>0&&/[.!?…]["')\]}]*$/.test(partialText));
+        const endpointSilenceMs=(speechMs<VAD_COMMITTED_SPEECH_MS&&!partialComplete)?Math.max(silenceMs,VAD_EARLY_SILENCE_MS):silenceMs;
         const finished=heardSpeech&&(now-lastSpeech)>=endpointSilenceMs;
         const timedOut=now-started>=90000;
         const idle=(!heardSpeech)&&(now-started)>=20000;
@@ -1775,7 +1987,7 @@
         streamingCapability.tts=null;
       }
     }
-    return {kind:'blob',blob:await fetchSpeech(chunk,language,turnId,token)};
+    return {kind:'blob',chunk:chunk,blob:await fetchSpeech(chunk,language,turnId,token)};
   }
 
   async function ensurePcmPlayback(asset,token){
@@ -1923,6 +2135,25 @@
     while(turn.waiters.length&&!turn.queue.length) turn.waiters.shift()(null);
   }
 
+  function scheduleSpeakingIdleFallback(turn,session){
+    // Interim-message turns speak in cycles (speak → tools → speak): once no
+    // further chunk is queued and the turn is not final, fall back to
+    // Thinking after the buffered audio has played out. The observer flips
+    // the state back to Speaking when the next segment yields a chunk.
+    cancelSpeakingIdleFallback(turn);
+    const bufferedMs=session&&session.sampleRate?Math.ceil(((session.bufferedFrames||0)/session.sampleRate)*1000):0;
+    turn.idleTimer=window.setTimeout(function(){
+      turn.idleTimer=null;
+      if(!active||turn.token!==generation||turn.cancelled||speechTurn!==turn) return;
+      if(turn.queue.length||turn.final) return;
+      if(state==='speaking') setState('thinking');
+    },bufferedMs+250);
+  }
+
+  function cancelSpeakingIdleFallback(turn){
+    if(turn&&turn.idleTimer){window.clearTimeout(turn.idleTimer);turn.idleTimer=null;}
+  }
+
   async function runSpeechQueue(turn){
     if(turn.running) return;
     turn.running=true;
@@ -1943,9 +2174,15 @@
         // Barge-in can abort both the playing request and its one-ahead request.
         // Observe the latter even when the cancelled current turn returns first.
         nextPrepared.catch(function(){ });
+        turn.speakingChunk=asset.chunk||'';
         await playPrepared(asset,turn.token);
+        turn.lastSpokenChunk=asset.chunk||turn.lastSpokenChunk;
+        turn.speakingChunk='';
         if(!active||turn.token!==generation||turn.cancelled||session.cancelled) return;
+        if(!turn.queue.length&&!turn.final) scheduleSpeakingIdleFallback(turn,session);
         current=await nextPrepared;
+        cancelSpeakingIdleFallback(turn);
+        if(current) setState('speaking');
       }
       await drainPcmPlayback(session,turn.token);
       if(turn.final&&active&&turn.token===generation&&!turn.cancelled) restartSoon(turn.token,300);
@@ -1962,23 +2199,34 @@
     }
   }
 
-  function currentAssistantText(){
+  function collectAssistantResponse(){
     const rows=assistantRows();
-    if(!rows.length) return '';
-    const row=rows[rows.length-1];
-    const text=readAssistantRow(row);
-    if(assistantBaseline&&row===assistantBaseline.row&&text===assistantBaseline.text) return '';
-    if(assistantBaseline&&rows.length<assistantBaseline.count) return '';
-    return cleanForSpeech(text);
+    if(!rows.length) return {text:'',error:false};
+    const turn=assistantTurnOf(rows[rows.length-1]);
+    const response=readAssistantTurn(turn);
+    if(assistantBaseline){
+      if(rows.length<assistantBaseline.count) return {text:'',error:false};
+      if(turn===assistantBaseline.row&&response.text===assistantBaseline.text) return {text:'',error:response.error};
+    }
+    return response;
+  }
+
+  function currentAssistantText(){
+    return collectAssistantResponse().text;
   }
 
   function ensureSpeechTurn(token){
     if(speechTurn) return speechTurn;
+    const sttDetected=takeSttLanguage(token);
     speechTurn={
       token:token,
       turnId:thinkingTurnId||String(token)+'-'+String(++turnSequence),
-      language:takeSttLanguage(token),
+      language:sttDetected,
+      sttLanguage:sttDetected,
       sourceText:'',
+      speakingChunk:'',
+      lastSpokenChunk:'',
+      idleTimer:null,
       consumed:0,
       first:true,
       queue:[],
@@ -2009,7 +2257,12 @@
       restartSoon(token,250);
       return;
     }
-    const text=currentAssistantText();
+    const response=collectAssistantResponse();
+    if(response.error){
+      handleAssistantResponseError(token);
+      return;
+    }
+    const text=response.text;
     if(!text){
       if(isFinal){thinkingSession=null;thinkingTurnId='';clearSttLanguage();stopResponseObserver();cancelThinkingCues();restartSoon(token,250);}
       return;
@@ -2020,6 +2273,18 @@
     // of the answer queue.
     cancelThinkingCues();
     const turn=ensureSpeechTurn(token);
+    if(turn.first){
+      // Reply-voice routing, finalized when the first chunk is cut: the
+      // turn's STT-detected language wins, but script evidence in the reply
+      // text corrects a wrong or missing detection (a Spanish reply must
+      // never be spoken by the English Amy voice), and a detection-less turn
+      // falls back to the reply-text heuristic. A correction on a
+      // detection-less turn also re-biases the sticky session language so
+      // the next streaming STT turn recognizes the switch promptly.
+      const resolved=strongReplyLanguage(text)||turn.sttLanguage||detectReplyLanguage(text);
+      if(resolved) turn.language=resolved;
+      if(!turn.sttLanguage&&resolved) sessionLanguage=resolved;
+    }
     if(text.length<turn.sourceText.length||!text.startsWith(turn.sourceText)){
       // Renderers can revise the still-unspoken tail. Already-spoken text is
       // immutable. On the completion callback, advance from the old spoken
@@ -2099,6 +2364,7 @@
     active=true;
     clearErrorTimer();
     clearSttLanguage();
+    sessionLanguage='';
     modeBtn.classList.add('active');
     toast('Hands-free private voice mode on');
     openConversationOverlay();
diff --git a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-hux/bootstrap.css b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-hux/bootstrap.css
index 4e087a10..0c247cf4 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-hux/bootstrap.css
+++ b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-hux/bootstrap.css
@@ -71,11 +71,28 @@
 }
 
 .hux-workspace-toggle:focus-visible,
+.hux-workspace-toggle-rail:focus-visible,
 .hux-workspace-drawer button:focus-visible {
   outline: 2px solid #5ee7d7;
   outline-offset: 2px;
 }
 
+/* Rail-mounted Workspace toggle: the upstream .rail-btn/.has-tooltip rules
+   own its look and tooltip; only the open-drawer state is marked here. */
+.hux-workspace-toggle-rail[aria-expanded="true"] {
+  background: var(--accent-bg, rgb(94 231 215 / 18%));
+  color: var(--accent-text, var(--text, #e7eef6));
+}
+
+/* Where the rail is visible (upstream shows it from 641px up) the floating
+   fallback toggle disappears; below that the rail itself is hidden and the
+   floating button remains the only entry point, so no width loses access. */
+@media (min-width: 641px) {
+  .hux-workspace-toggle--railed {
+    display: none;
+  }
+}
+
 @media (max-width: 640px) {
   .hux-workspace-drawer {
     width: 100%;
diff --git a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-hux/bootstrap.js b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-hux/bootstrap.js
index 3ebecbee..862a72b2 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-hux/bootstrap.js
+++ b/dockerfiles/hermes-webui-hux/bootstrap.js
@@ -232,9 +232,53 @@
     return value;
   }
 
+  function railHost(doc) {
+    // The app's left icon rail (chat, tasks, telegram, …). Optional: bundles
+    // without it (and headless harnesses) keep the floating toggle.
+    if (typeof doc.querySelector !== 'function') return null;
+    const rail = doc.querySelector('nav.rail');
+    return rail && typeof rail.insertBefore === 'function' ? rail : null;
+  }
+
+  function railIcon(doc) {
+    try {
+      if (typeof doc.createElementNS !== 'function') return null;
+      const svgNS = 'http://www.w3.org/2000/svg';
+      const svg = doc.createElementNS(svgNS, 'svg');
+      [['width', '20'], ['height', '20'], ['viewBox', '0 0 24 24'], ['fill', 'none'],
+        ['stroke', 'currentColor'], ['stroke-width', '1.5'], ['stroke-linecap', 'round'],
+        ['stroke-linejoin', 'round'], ['aria-hidden', 'true'],
+      ].forEach(([name, value]) => svg.setAttribute(name, value));
+      const path = doc.createElementNS(svgNS, 'path');
+      path.setAttribute('d', 'M3 5a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h6v18H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V5Zm10-2h6a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v5h-8V3Zm0 11h8v5a2 2 0 0 1-2 2h-6v-7Z');
+      svg.appendChild(path);
+      return svg;
+    } catch (_) {
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+
   function createChrome(doc) {
-    const open = node(doc, 'button', {'class': 'hux-workspace-toggle', type: 'button',
-      'aria-controls': 'huxWorkspaceDrawer', 'aria-expanded': 'false'}, 'Workspace');
+    const rail = railHost(doc);
+    const open = node(doc, 'button', {'class': rail ?
+      'hux-workspace-toggle hux-workspace-toggle--railed' : 'hux-workspace-toggle',
+    type: 'button', 'aria-controls': 'huxWorkspaceDrawer', 'aria-expanded': 'false'}, 'Workspace');
+    let railToggle = null;
+    if (rail) {
+      // Rail placement: an icon-only item beside the app's own tabs, styled
+      // by the upstream .rail-btn/.has-tooltip rules. The floating button
+      // stays in the DOM as the below-rail-breakpoint fallback and is hidden
+      // by bootstrap.css wherever the rail is visible, so nothing floats
+      // over the chat. Drawer behavior is unchanged.
+      railToggle = node(doc, 'button', {'class': 'rail-btn has-tooltip hux-workspace-toggle-rail',
+        type: 'button', 'aria-controls': 'huxWorkspaceDrawer', 'aria-expanded': 'false',
+        'data-tooltip': 'Workspace', 'aria-label': 'Workspace'});
+      const icon = railIcon(doc);
+      if (icon) railToggle.appendChild(icon);
+      else railToggle.textContent = '⧉';
+      const spacer = typeof rail.querySelector === 'function' ? rail.querySelector('.rail-spacer') : null;
+      rail.insertBefore(railToggle, spacer || null);
+    }
     const drawer = node(doc, 'aside', {id: 'huxWorkspaceDrawer', 'class': 'hux-workspace-drawer',
       'aria-labelledby': 'huxWorkspaceTitle'});
     const header = node(doc, 'header', {'class': 'hux-workspace-drawer__header'});
@@ -246,16 +290,19 @@
     doc.body.appendChild(open); doc.body.appendChild(drawer);
     function setOpen(value) {
       drawer.hidden = !value; open.setAttribute('aria-expanded', value ? 'true' : 'false');
+      if (railToggle) railToggle.setAttribute('aria-expanded', value ? 'true' : 'false');
       if (value && typeof close.focus === 'function') close.focus();
     }
     const onOpen = () => setOpen(true);
     const onClose = () => setOpen(false);
     const onKey = (event) => { if (event.key === 'Escape' && !drawer.hidden) setOpen(false); };
     open.addEventListener('click', onOpen); close.addEventListener('click', onClose);
+    if (railToggle) railToggle.addEventListener('click', onOpen);
     doc.addEventListener('keydown', onKey);
-    return Object.freeze({content, drawer, open, setOpen, destroy() {
+    return Object.freeze({content, drawer, open, railToggle, setOpen, destroy() {
       doc.removeEventListener('keydown', onKey);
       if (open.parentNode) open.parentNode.removeChild(open);
+      if (railToggle && railToggle.parentNode) railToggle.parentNode.removeChild(railToggle);
       if (drawer.parentNode) drawer.parentNode.removeChild(drawer);
     }});
   }
diff --git a/testing/fixtures/hermes-webui-0.52.181/api/profiles.py b/testing/fixtures/hermes-webui-0.52.181/api/profiles.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dd10bd59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/fixtures/hermes-webui-0.52.181/api/profiles.py
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+"""Sliced upstream fixture: the exact api/profiles.py fragments the Atlas
+voice patcher grafts into (session-continuity 409 resilience). Mirrors the
+pinned Hermes WebUI deployment byte-for-byte for the anchored regions; see
+dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-patch.py."""
+
+import logging
+import threading
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+_root_profile_name_cache = {'default'}
+_root_profile_name_cache_lock = threading.Lock()
+_root_profile_name_cache_loaded = False
+
+
+def list_profiles_api():
+    """Fixture stand-in for the hermes_cli-backed profile listing."""
+    return []
+
+
+def _is_root_profile(name: str) -> bool:
+    """True if *name* resolves to the Hermes Agent root profile (~/.hermes).
+
+    Matches the legacy 'default' alias plus any name where list_profiles_api()
+    reports is_default=True. Memoized; call _invalidate_root_profile_cache()
+    after mutating profile metadata.
+    """
+    global _root_profile_name_cache_loaded
+    if not name:
+        return False
+    if name == 'default':
+        return True
+    with _root_profile_name_cache_lock:
+        if _root_profile_name_cache_loaded:
+            return name in _root_profile_name_cache
+    # Cache miss — populate from list_profiles_api(). Done outside the lock to
+    # avoid holding it across a hermes_cli subprocess call.
+    try:
+        infos = list_profiles_api()
+    except Exception:
+        logger.debug("Failed to list profiles for root-profile lookup", exc_info=True)
+        return False
+    with _root_profile_name_cache_lock:
+        _root_profile_name_cache.clear()
+        _root_profile_name_cache.add('default')
+        for p in infos:
+            try:
+                if p.get('is_default') and p.get('name'):
+                    _root_profile_name_cache.add(p['name'])
+            except (AttributeError, TypeError):
+                continue
+        _root_profile_name_cache_loaded = True
+        return name in _root_profile_name_cache
+
+
+def _profiles_match(row_profile, active_profile) -> bool:
+    """Return True if a session/project row's profile matches the active profile.
+
+    Treats both the literal alias 'default' and any renamed-root display name
+    (per _is_root_profile) as equivalent, so legacy rows tagged 'default'
+    still surface when the user has renamed the root profile to e.g. 'kinni',
+    and vice versa.
+
+    A row with no profile (`None` or empty string) is treated as belonging to
+    the root profile — that's the convention used by the legacy backfill at
+    api/models.py::all_sessions, and matches the default seen in
+    `static/sessions.js` (`S.activeProfile||'default'`).
+
+    Originally lived in api/routes.py; relocated here so both routes.py and
+    out-of-process consumers (mcp_server.py) can import the canonical helper
+    instead of duplicating the body. See #1614 for the visibility model.
+    """
+    row = row_profile or 'default'
+    active = active_profile or 'default'
+    if row == active:
+        return True
+    # Cross-alias the renamed root.
+    if _is_root_profile(row) and _is_root_profile(active):
+        return True
+    return False
diff --git a/testing/probes/hermes_voice_capture_probe.js b/testing/probes/hermes_voice_capture_probe.js
index c491fae9..a25cc6a9 100644
--- a/testing/probes/hermes_voice_capture_probe.js
+++ b/testing/probes/hermes_voice_capture_probe.js
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ function makeHarness(options = {}) {
   const sends = [];
   const toasts = [];
   const transcribeUploads = [];
+  const ttsCalls = [];
   const servers = [];
   const captureNodes = [];
   const analysers = [];
@@ -358,7 +359,7 @@ function makeHarness(options = {}) {
       if (this.readyState !== 1) throw new Error('socket not open');
       if (typeof data === 'string') {
         const message = JSON.parse(data);
-        if (message.type === 'start') { this.turnId = message.turn_id; return; }
+        if (message.type === 'start') { this.turnId = message.turn_id; this.startLanguage = message.language; return; }
         if (message.type === 'speculate') { this.server.speculate(); return; }
         if (message.type === 'resume') { this.server.resume(); return; }
         if (message.type === 'cancel') { this.server.events.push('cancel'); return; }
@@ -374,6 +375,22 @@ function makeHarness(options = {}) {
         return;
       }
       this.server.append(new Int16Array(data));
+      // Mirror the server's rolling-partial stream: one stable partial per
+      // decoded-transcript change, so the client's dynamic endpoint sees the
+      // same signal the Jetson emits.
+      const partialText = this.server.transcript();
+      if (partialText && partialText !== this.lastPartialText) {
+        this.lastPartialText = partialText;
+        this.partialRevision = (this.partialRevision || 0) + 1;
+        this.deliver({
+          type: 'partial',
+          rolling: true,
+          turn_id: this.turnId,
+          revision: this.partialRevision,
+          transcript: partialText,
+          stable_transcript: partialText,
+        });
+      }
     }
     close(code) { this.readyState = 3; this.closeCode = code; }
   }
@@ -398,6 +415,7 @@ function makeHarness(options = {}) {
       return { ok: true, status: 200, json: async () => ({ transcript: 'CONTAINER-FALLBACK', language: 'en' }) };
     }
     if (url === '/api/tts') {
+      ttsCalls.push(JSON.parse((init && init.body) || '{}'));
       return { ok: true, status: 200, blob: async () => ({ synthetic: true }), json: async () => ({}) };
     }
     if (String(url).indexOf('api/chat/cancel') >= 0) {
@@ -580,6 +598,7 @@ function makeHarness(options = {}) {
     sends,
     toasts,
     transcribeUploads,
+    ttsCalls,
     servers,
     recorders,
     clock,
@@ -589,6 +608,7 @@ function makeHarness(options = {}) {
     flush,
     runDueTimeouts,
     setAssistantReply(text) { assistantRows = [{ dataset: { rawText: text } }]; },
+    setAssistantError(text) { assistantRows = [{ dataset: { rawText: text, error: '1' } }]; },
     clearAssistantRows() { assistantRows = []; },
     state() { return elements.voiceModeBar.dataset.voiceState || ''; },
     body() { return bodyElement; },
@@ -773,6 +793,95 @@ scenarios.conversation_overlay_lifecycle = async () => {
   };
 };
 
+// Dynamic endpointing: a >=3-word partial reads as a plausibly complete
+// utterance and endpoints at the base silence window; 1-2 word partials keep
+// the young-utterance hold so thinking pauses still never clip.
+scenarios.three_word_partial_endpoints_at_base_silence = async () => {
+  const harness = makeHarness();
+  await harness.start();
+  await harness.silence(300);
+  await harness.speak('alpha', 300);
+  await harness.speak('bravo', 300);
+  await harness.speak('charlie', 400);
+  await harness.silence(1200); // past the base 1100ms endpoint, well under the 1800ms hold
+  await harness.tick(300);
+  return { sends: harness.sends, state: harness.state() };
+};
+
+scenarios.two_word_young_utterance_keeps_the_hold = async () => {
+  const harness = makeHarness();
+  await harness.start();
+  await harness.silence(300);
+  await harness.speak('alpha', 300);
+  await harness.speak('bravo', 300);
+  await harness.silence(1300); // longer than base, shorter than the hold
+  const sendsEarly = harness.sends.slice();
+  await harness.silence(700);
+  await harness.tick(300);
+  return { sendsEarly, sends: harness.sends };
+};
+
+// An errored turn (error/system envelope in the transcript) is never spoken,
+// never captioned as a reply, and fully resynchronizes capture.
+scenarios.errored_turn_is_not_spoken_and_capture_resyncs = async () => {
+  const harness = makeHarness();
+  await harness.start();
+  await harness.silence(300);
+  await harness.speak('alpha', 1300);
+  await harness.silence(1500);
+  await harness.tick(400); // dispatched; thinking
+  const serversBefore = harness.servers.length;
+  const ttsBefore = harness.ttsCalls.length;
+  harness.setAssistantError('**Task cancelled:** Task cancelled.');
+  await harness.tick(300); // the response observer sees the envelope
+  const stateAfterError = harness.state();
+  const labelAfterError = harness.elements.voiceModeLabel.textContent;
+  await harness.speak('bravo', 1300);
+  await harness.silence(1500);
+  await harness.tick(400);
+  return {
+    stateAfterError,
+    labelAfterError,
+    ttsDuringError: harness.ttsCalls.length - ttsBefore,
+    freshSessions: harness.servers.length - serversBefore,
+    sends: harness.sends,
+  };
+};
+
+// Voice barge-in appends a single-line cut marker naming the sentence that
+// was playing, so the model knows where its reply was cut off.
+scenarios.barge_cut_marker_records_spoken_tail = async () => {
+  const harness = makeHarness();
+  await harness.start();
+  await harness.silence(300);
+  await harness.speak('alpha', 1300);
+  await harness.silence(1500);
+  await harness.tick(400); // dispatched; thinking
+  harness.setAssistantReply('The first point is ready. The second point needs many more words before it becomes another speakable chunk.');
+  await harness.tick(300); // first sentence reaches TTS and starts playing
+  await harness.speak('bravo', 900); // talk over the reply
+  await harness.silence(1900);
+  await harness.tick(400);
+  return { sends: harness.sends, ttsTexts: harness.ttsCalls.map((request) => request.text) };
+};
+
+// The detected utterance language re-biases the following streaming STT
+// session (sticky per hands-free session).
+scenarios.sticky_language_biases_next_stt_session = async () => {
+  const harness = makeHarness();
+  await harness.start();
+  await harness.silence(300);
+  await harness.speak('alpha', 1300);
+  await harness.silence(1500);
+  await harness.tick(400);
+  harness.completeResponse();
+  await harness.tick(400);
+  await harness.speak('bravo', 1300);
+  await harness.silence(1500);
+  await harness.tick(400);
+  return { startLanguages: harness.servers.map((socket) => socket.startLanguage) };
+};
+
 (async () => {
   const output = {};
   for (const name of Object.keys(scenarios)) {
diff --git a/testing/tests/data/atlas_voice_language_probe.js b/testing/tests/data/atlas_voice_language_probe.js
index 05721c4b..e71802a6 100644
--- a/testing/tests/data/atlas_voice_language_probe.js
+++ b/testing/tests/data/atlas_voice_language_probe.js
@@ -520,6 +520,21 @@ scenarios.spoken_urls_are_elided_before_all_voice_routes = async () => {
   return { results };
 };
 
+scenarios.spanish_reply_without_detection_uses_reply_heuristic = async () => {
+  const harness = makeHarness();
+  await startVoiceMode(harness);
+  await runTurn(harness, { transcript: 'Que tal', reply: '¿Claro que sí! Todo está listo para continuar.' });
+  return { tts: harness.ttsRequests };
+};
+
+scenarios.reply_script_evidence_corrects_wrong_detection = async () => {
+  const harness = makeHarness();
+  await startVoiceMode(harness);
+  await runTurn(harness, { transcript: 'Answer in Spanish please.', language: 'en',
+    reply: 'Está bien: la razón es fácil de explicar.' });
+  return { tts: harness.ttsRequests };
+};
+
 scenarios.canonical_pcm_fallback_builds_a_valid_wav = async () => {
   const harness = makeHarness();
   await harness.flush();
diff --git a/testing/tests/test_hermes_handsfree_stt.py b/testing/tests/test_hermes_handsfree_stt.py
index 7a2e6e6f..aa62a93d 100644
--- a/testing/tests/test_hermes_handsfree_stt.py
+++ b/testing/tests/test_hermes_handsfree_stt.py
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import shutil
 import subprocess
 import sys
 
+import pytest
+
 
 ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
 VOICE_JS = ROOT / "dockerfiles/hermes-webui-atlas-voice.js"
@@ -135,6 +137,35 @@ def test_local_conversion_accepts_browser_fallback_containers(tmp_path: Path):
     module = _patched_transcription_module(tmp_path)
     formats = ((".ogg", "libopus"), (".mp4", "aac"))
 
+    # This test synthesizes .ogg/.mp4 sources itself, so it needs ffmpeg WITH
+    # the opus/aac encoders. Runners without them (the CI pod) skip; runners
+    # with the binaries keep full enforcement.
+    if shutil.which("ffmpeg") is None:
+        pytest.skip("ffmpeg is unavailable on this runner")
+    for _suffix, codec in formats:
+        encoder_probe = subprocess.run(
+            [
+                "ffmpeg",
+                "-v",
+                "error",
+                "-f",
+                "lavfi",
+                "-i",
+                "sine=frequency=440:duration=0.1",
+                "-c:a",
+                codec,
+                "-f",
+                "null",
+                "-",
+            ],
+            check=False,
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            timeout=15,
+        )
+        if encoder_probe.returncode != 0:
+            pytest.skip(f"ffmpeg lacks the {codec} encoder on this runner")
+
     for suffix, codec in formats:
         source = tmp_path / f"source{suffix}"
         subprocess.run(
diff --git a/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_capture_continuity.py b/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_capture_continuity.py
index 14dd28e8..7c4319ee 100644
--- a/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_capture_continuity.py
+++ b/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_capture_continuity.py
@@ -58,10 +58,15 @@ def test_thinking_pause_after_first_word_does_not_split(probe_results):
 def test_barge_in_stitches_regardless_of_partial_assistant_output(probe_results):
     scenario = probe_results["second_utterance_during_response_is_complete"]
     assert scenario["firstSends"] == ["alpha"]
-    # Assistant text was already visible when the user talked over the
-    # response: the interrupted thought and the follow-up still form one
-    # stitched message.
-    assert scenario["sends"] == ["alpha", "alpha bravo charlie"]
+    # Assistant text was already visible (and being spoken) when the user
+    # talked over the response: the interrupted thought and the follow-up form
+    # one stitched message, and the cut marker names the sentence that was
+    # playing so the model knows where its reply stopped being heard.
+    assert scenario["sends"] == [
+        "alpha",
+        "alpha bravo charlie\n[voice interruption: you were cut off after "
+        '"Partial answer already visible."]',
+    ]
 
 
 def test_normal_completion_clears_stitch_and_mic_stays_hot(probe_results):
@@ -124,11 +129,15 @@ def test_overlay_source_contract():
 def test_endpointing_and_streaming_hardening_source_contract():
     source = VOICE_SCRIPT.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
 
-    # Young utterances hold their endpoint past a thinking pause.
+    # Young utterances hold their endpoint past a thinking pause — unless the
+    # streaming partial already reads as a plausibly complete utterance
+    # (>=3 words or terminal punctuation), which endpoints at the base window.
     assert "const VAD_EARLY_SILENCE_MS=1800" in source
     assert "const VAD_COMMITTED_SPEECH_MS=1200" in source
+    assert "latestPartial:function(){return lastPartialText;}" in source
+    assert "const partialComplete=partialWords>=3||(partialWords>0" in source
     assert (
-        "const endpointSilenceMs=speechMs<VAD_COMMITTED_SPEECH_MS"
+        "const endpointSilenceMs=(speechMs<VAD_COMMITTED_SPEECH_MS&&!partialComplete)"
         "?Math.max(silenceMs,VAD_EARLY_SILENCE_MS):silenceMs" in source
     )
     # Resume always reaches the wire after a server-length silence gap.
@@ -150,9 +159,106 @@ def test_stitch_gate_ignores_partial_assistant_output():
         "async function sendTranscript", 1
     )[0]
     assert "currentAssistantText()" not in region
-    assert "pendingStitch={text:sent.text,at:Date.now()}" in region
+    assert "pendingStitch={text:sent.text,at:Date.now(),cut:cut}" in region
     # Normal completion still clears the stitch context.
     assert (
         "if(isFinal){\n      // The completion callback marks a normally "
         "completed response" in source
     )
+
+
+def test_three_word_partial_endpoints_at_base_silence(probe_results):
+    scenario = probe_results["three_word_partial_endpoints_at_base_silence"]
+    assert scenario["sends"] == ["alpha bravo charlie"]
+    assert scenario["state"] == "thinking"
+
+
+def test_two_word_young_utterance_keeps_the_hold(probe_results):
+    scenario = probe_results["two_word_young_utterance_keeps_the_hold"]
+    assert scenario["sendsEarly"] == []
+    assert scenario["sends"] == ["alpha bravo"]
+
+
+def test_errored_turn_is_never_spoken_and_capture_resyncs(probe_results):
+    scenario = probe_results["errored_turn_is_not_spoken_and_capture_resyncs"]
+    assert scenario["stateAfterError"] == "listening"
+    assert scenario["labelAfterError"] == "Something went wrong — listening"
+    assert scenario["ttsDuringError"] == 0
+    assert scenario["freshSessions"] >= 1
+    # The follow-up utterance is sent alone: no stitch with the errored turn.
+    assert scenario["sends"] == ["alpha", "bravo"]
+
+
+def test_barge_cut_marker_is_one_bounded_line(probe_results):
+    scenario = probe_results["barge_cut_marker_records_spoken_tail"]
+    assert scenario["ttsTexts"][0] == "The first point is ready."
+    assert scenario["sends"][1] == (
+        "alpha bravo\n[voice interruption: you were cut off after "
+        '"The first point is ready."]'
+    )
+    marker = scenario["sends"][1].split("\n", 1)[1]
+    assert "\n" not in marker
+
+
+def test_sticky_language_biases_next_stt_session(probe_results):
+    scenario = probe_results["sticky_language_biases_next_stt_session"]
+    assert scenario["startLanguages"][0] == "auto"
+    assert "en" in scenario["startLanguages"]
+
+
+def test_cut_marker_error_resync_and_speaking_cycles_source_contract():
+    source = VOICE_SCRIPT.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+    # Cut marker: exactly one appended line, tail bounded to 120 characters.
+    assert "function voiceCutMarker(cut)" in source
+    assert "tail.length>120?tail.slice(tail.length-120):tail" in source
+    assert '\\n[voice interruption: you were cut off after "' in source
+    # Error envelopes are detected structurally and trigger a capture resync.
+    assert "function handleAssistantResponseError(token)" in source
+    assert "function resyncCapture(token,statusLabel)" in source
+    assert "'Something went wrong — listening'" in source
+    assert "segment.dataset.error==='1'" in source
+    assert ".provider-error-details" in source
+    # A cancellation with no in-flight stream never gates the send.
+    assert "if(!cancellation.streamId){" in source
+    # Speaking ⇄ thinking cycles inside one interim-message turn.
+    assert "function scheduleSpeakingIdleFallback(turn,session)" in source
+    assert "if(state==='speaking') setState('thinking')" in source
+    assert "function playbackAudible()" in source
+    # Body-only scraping: never the avatar letter, author name or status chip.
+    assert "querySelectorAll('.msg-body')" in source
+    assert "function readSegmentBody(segment)" in source
+    assert "function readAssistantTurn(turn)" in source
+
+
+def test_caption_regions_are_bounded_scrollable_and_follow_tail():
+    source = VOICE_SCRIPT.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    css = (ROOT / "dockerfiles" / "hermes-webui-atlas-voice.css").read_text(
+        encoding="utf-8"
+    )
+
+    assert "function updateCaptionRegion(element,text,limit)" in source
+    assert "function attachCaptionScroll(element)" in source
+    assert "element.dataset.follow=gap<=24?'1':'0'" in source
+    for token in (
+        "overflow-y: auto",
+        "overscroll-behavior: contain",
+        "-webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch",
+        "touch-action: pan-y",
+        "max-height: 22vh",
+        "max-height: 38vh",
+        "mask-image",
+    ):
+        assert token in css
+
+
+def test_reply_language_stickiness_source_contract():
+    source = VOICE_SCRIPT.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+    assert "let sessionLanguage=''" in source
+    assert "language:sessionLanguage||'auto'" in source
+    assert "function strongReplyLanguage(text)" in source
+    assert "function detectReplyLanguage(text)" in source
+    assert "scheduleThinkingCues(token,language||sessionLanguage,thinkingTurnId)" in source
+    # The sticky language resets with each hands-free session.
+    assert source.count("sessionLanguage='';") >= 2
diff --git a/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_full_duplex.py b/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_full_duplex.py
index 862d73d3..c82f9e73 100644
--- a/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_full_duplex.py
+++ b/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_full_duplex.py
@@ -134,3 +134,15 @@ def test_stt_client_queue_and_canonical_archive_are_strictly_bounded():
     assert "takeFallbackBlob:function()" in source
     assert "pcm16WavBlob(archive,16000)" in source
     assert "if(pcmFallback)" in source
+
+
+def test_playback_audibility_and_settle_short_circuit():
+    source = VOICE.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+    # Barge detection keys off actually audible playback, so the persistent
+    # PCM worklet node between speech segments no longer counts as speaking.
+    assert "function playbackAudible()" in source
+    assert "const playbackActive=playbackAudible();" in source
+    assert "const playbackLive=playbackAudible();" in source
+    # A cancellation record with no in-flight stream can never gate the send.
+    assert "if(!cancellation.streamId){" in source
diff --git a/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_instrument.py b/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_instrument.py
index 09dabb49..e19be4f8 100644
--- a/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_instrument.py
+++ b/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_instrument.py
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import shutil
 import subprocess
 import sys
 
+from hux_node_gate import require_node
+
 
 ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
 FIXTURE = ROOT / "testing/fixtures/hermes-webui-0.52.181"
@@ -142,6 +144,7 @@ def test_visual_states_have_distinct_layers_finite_error_and_reduced_motion():
 
 
 def test_dom_probe_exercises_actual_injected_voice_script():
+    require_node()
     result = subprocess.run(
         ["node", str(DOM_PROBE), str(VOICE_JS), str(MEDIARECORDER_FIXTURE)],
         cwd=ROOT,
@@ -207,3 +210,22 @@ def test_release_candidate_keeps_finalized_webm_as_quality_fallback():
     assert "new Blob(chunks,{type:recordedMime||'audio/webm'})" in script
     assert "transcribeStreamingOrFallback" in script
     assert "transcribe(blob,token,turnId)" in script
+
+
+def test_session_continuity_profile_gate_survives_transient_lookup_failures(
+    tmp_path,
+):
+    """The /api/session profile gate must not 409 ("This session is
+    unavailable to this account.") on a cold or transiently failing
+    root-alias lookup — only on a confirmed cross-profile mismatch."""
+    target = _patched_fixture(tmp_path)
+    profiles = (target / "api/profiles.py").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+    assert "_root_profile_names_confirmed" in profiles
+    assert (
+        'if "default" in (row, active) and not _root_profile_names_confirmed():'
+        in profiles
+    )
+    # Listing failure now answers from the last known alias set (one extra
+    # cache read next to the two pinned upstream reads).
+    assert profiles.count("return name in _root_profile_name_cache") == 3
diff --git a/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_language_routing.py b/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_language_routing.py
index 73c88d68..d1e31004 100644
--- a/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_language_routing.py
+++ b/testing/tests/test_hermes_voice_language_routing.py
@@ -868,3 +868,20 @@ def test_notes_document_the_stt_driven_voice_selection_and_its_limits():
     assert "STT-detected language" in notes
     for marker in ("hands-free", "Typed messages", "en_US-amy-medium"):
         assert marker in notes
+
+
+def test_reply_language_heuristic_routes_detectionless_spanish(voice_probe):
+    """A Spanish reply on a detection-less turn still gets the Spanish voice."""
+    requests = voice_probe["spanish_reply_without_detection_uses_reply_heuristic"]["tts"]
+    assert requests, "voice mode never reached /api/tts"
+    for request in requests:
+        assert request["language"] == "es"
+
+
+def test_reply_script_evidence_corrects_wrong_detection(voice_probe):
+    """Script-level evidence in the reply text overrides a wrong STT hint, so
+    a Spanish reply is never spoken by the English Amy voice."""
+    requests = voice_probe["reply_script_evidence_corrects_wrong_detection"]["tts"]
+    assert requests, "voice mode never reached /api/tts"
+    for request in requests:
+        assert request["language"] == "es"
diff --git a/testing/tests/test_hermes_webui_hux_integration_node.js b/testing/tests/test_hermes_webui_hux_integration_node.js
index c79a243c..a7067793 100644
--- a/testing/tests/test_hermes_webui_hux_integration_node.js
+++ b/testing/tests/test_hermes_webui_hux_integration_node.js
@@ -395,3 +395,62 @@ test('coordinator default factory and polling callback remain generation fenced'
   let staleDestroyed = 0; resolveRuntime({destroy() { staleDestroyed += 1; }});
   assert.equal(await first, false); assert.equal(staleDestroyed, 1); stale.destroy();
 });
+
+test('chrome mounts an icon-only rail toggle beside the app tabs when a rail exists', () => {
+  const doc = new FakeDocument();
+  const rail = new FakeNode('nav');
+  rail.setAttribute('class', 'rail');
+  const spacer = new FakeNode('div');
+  spacer.setAttribute('class', 'rail-spacer');
+  rail.appendChild(spacer);
+  rail.querySelector = (selector) => (selector === '.rail-spacer' ? spacer : null);
+  rail.insertBefore = (child, before) => {
+    const index = rail.children.indexOf(before);
+    rail.children.splice(index < 0 ? rail.children.length : index, 0, child);
+    child.parentNode = rail;
+  };
+  doc.querySelector = (selector) => (selector === 'nav.rail' ? rail : null);
+  doc.createElementNS = () => { throw new Error('no namespaces here'); };
+  const chrome = api.createChrome(doc);
+  assert.ok(chrome.railToggle);
+  assert.equal(chrome.railToggle.getAttribute('data-tooltip'), 'Workspace');
+  assert.equal(chrome.railToggle.getAttribute('aria-label'), 'Workspace');
+  assert.equal(chrome.railToggle.getAttribute('aria-controls'), 'huxWorkspaceDrawer');
+  assert.match(chrome.railToggle.attributes.class, /rail-btn/);
+  assert.equal(chrome.railToggle.textContent, '⧉');
+  assert.equal(rail.children[0], chrome.railToggle);
+  assert.equal(rail.children[1], spacer);
+  assert.match(chrome.open.attributes.class, /--railed/);
+  chrome.railToggle.trigger('click');
+  assert.equal(chrome.drawer.hidden, false);
+  assert.equal(chrome.railToggle.getAttribute('aria-expanded'), 'true');
+  assert.equal(chrome.open.getAttribute('aria-expanded'), 'true');
+  chrome.setOpen(false);
+  assert.equal(chrome.railToggle.getAttribute('aria-expanded'), 'false');
+  chrome.destroy();
+  assert.equal(rail.children.includes(chrome.railToggle), false);
+  assert.equal(doc.body.children.length, 0);
+});
+
+test('rail toggle renders an svg icon where namespaces exist and falls back floating without a rail', () => {
+  const doc = new FakeDocument();
+  const rail = new FakeNode('nav');
+  rail.querySelector = () => null; // no spacer: toggle appends at the end
+  rail.insertBefore = (child) => { rail.children.push(child); child.parentNode = rail; };
+  doc.querySelector = (selector) => (selector === 'nav.rail' ? rail : null);
+  doc.createElementNS = (_ns, tag) => new FakeNode(tag);
+  const chrome = api.createChrome(doc);
+  assert.equal(chrome.railToggle.children.length, 1);
+  assert.equal(chrome.railToggle.children[0].tagName, 'SVG');
+  assert.equal(chrome.railToggle.children[0].children[0].tagName, 'PATH');
+  chrome.destroy();
+
+  // Rail lookups that yield nothing usable keep the plain floating toggle.
+  const bare = new FakeDocument();
+  bare.querySelector = () => new FakeNode('nav'); // no insertBefore
+  const floating = api.createChrome(bare);
+  assert.equal(floating.railToggle, null);
+  assert.equal(floating.open.attributes.class, 'hux-workspace-toggle');
+  assert.equal(floating.open.textContent, 'Workspace');
+  floating.destroy();
+});