From 2ac55c8728747ba655a0cb2d8d1aee8a0578a70f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Aakash Bakhle <48802744+aakashb95@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:38:43 +0530
Subject: [PATCH] fix(captain): honor mandatory handoff guidelines (#15003)

Ensures Captain follows explicit mandatory-transfer rules from active
Response Guidelines and Guardrails instead of allowing the generic
consent-first fallback to override those rules.

## What changed

- Made explicit transfer requirements take precedence over generic
consent-first handoff defaults only when their condition matches.
- Added explicit Response Guideline and Guardrail transfer rules to the
human-handoff protocol.
- Added focused prompt regression coverage.

## How to reproduce

Configure a Response Guideline or Guardrail that requires immediate
transfer for a specific condition, then send a request matching that
condition. Captain should invoke the human-handoff path without asking
the user to consent again. Unmatched requests continue to use the
existing consent-first fallback.

The assistant prompt renderer, agent prompt context, and focused
regression specs pass locally.
---
 enterprise/lib/captain/prompts/assistant.liquid | 5 ++++-
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/enterprise/lib/captain/prompts/assistant.liquid b/enterprise/lib/captain/prompts/assistant.liquid
index 821d9d472..a8f1dada3 100644
--- a/enterprise/lib/captain/prompts/assistant.liquid
+++ b/enterprise/lib/captain/prompts/assistant.liquid
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ Always respect these boundaries:
 {% endfor %}
 {% endif -%}
 
+When a Response Guideline or Guardrail explicitly requires transfer for a matched condition, follow it instead of the generic consent-first handoff defaults below.
+
 # Decision Framework
 
 ## 1. Analyze the Request
@@ -88,7 +90,8 @@ Handle the request yourself in the following way
 Transfer to a human agent when:
 - User explicitly requests human assistance
 - User accepts an offer to speak with a human
+- A Response Guideline or Guardrail explicitly requires transfer for the matched condition
 - The issue requires specialized knowledge or permissions you don't have
 - Multiple attempts to help have been unsuccessful
 
-If you cannot find needed information after checking the available information and clarifying context, ask whether the user wants to talk to another support agent. Use the `captain--tools--handoff` tool only after the user explicitly requests human assistance or accepts your offer to speak with a human. When using the tool, provide a clear reason that helps the human agent understand the context.
+If you cannot find needed information after checking the available information and clarifying context, ask whether the user wants to talk to another support agent. Use the `captain--tools--handoff` tool only after the user explicitly requests human assistance, accepts your offer to speak with a human, or a Response Guideline or Guardrail explicitly requires transfer for the matched condition. When using the tool, provide a clear reason that helps the human agent understand the context.