fix(prompts): let mid-run operator text steer running workers (#1085)

Answer-first Skywalker copy and Do not resubmit token notices made a steer look like a finish instead of inbound send_input.

Author: TheGreatAxios

src/agent/directors/skywalker/package.test.ts

@@ -156,10 +156,15 @@ describe("skywalkerPackage", () => {
     expect(p).toContain("reply to the operator");
     expect(p).toContain("end the turn");
     expect(p).toContain("mailbox mail");
-    expect(p).toContain("answer them first");
     expect(p).toContain("Enter mid-run");
   });
 
+  test("systemPrompt does not forbid steering workers when the operator messages mid-run", () => {
+    const p = skywalkerPackage.systemPrompt;
+    expect(p).not.toContain("answer them first");
+    expect(p).not.toContain("Do not hold the reply on fleet collection");
+  });
+
   test("systemPrompt anti-cascade keeps digs out of fleets", () => {
     const p = skywalkerPackage.systemPrompt;
     expect(p).toContain("Anti-cascade");

src/agent/directors/skywalker/package.ts

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Idle-orchestrator: fire one or more spawn_agent calls in a turn — each returns
 You are the chat surface. Workers cannot ask_operator; they ask_director. A parked question arrives as an idle-send wake — answer with send_input using target = that worker's session id. Do not poll list_agents. Escalate with ask_operator only when you cannot resolve it. While any specialist is running:
 - After every spawn wave: short status (who, goal, what you are waiting on) then end the turn.
 - On mailbox mail or a finished report: short update — do not go silent.
-- When the operator messages mid-run: answer them first (COMMUNICATION). Do not hold the reply on fleet collection — answer now and fold worker results in on the next turn.
+- Operator text while a specialist is running: send_input (soft) to that agent_id, then a short ack.
 - Keep updates short; no wall of task dumps. manage_tasks is the checklist; chat is the narrative.
 
 Example chains:

src/agent/prompts.ts

@@ -545,8 +545,8 @@ export function buildSubAgentReportContract(
     'Key file paths you read or changed (one per line). Write "None." if none.',
     "",
     askDirector
-      ? "- This message is the only thing returned to the parent. You cannot reach the operator. If the brief is ambiguous, ask_director before finishing; otherwise make the best-judgment call and note assumptions under Blockers."
-      : "- This message is the only thing returned to the parent. Do not ask the parent questions; you cannot receive answers. Make the best-judgment call, act, and note assumptions under Blockers.",
+      ? "- This message is the only thing returned to the parent. If the brief is ambiguous, ask_director before finishing; otherwise make the best-judgment call and note assumptions under Blockers. Inbound send_input supersedes the brief."
+      : "- This message is the only thing returned to the parent. Make the best-judgment call, act, and note assumptions under Blockers. Inbound send_input supersedes the brief.",
   ].join("\n");
 }
 

src/prompts.test.ts

@@ -434,6 +434,15 @@ test("when ask_director is in toolNames, the worker prompt mentions ask_director
   expect(prompt).not.toContain("ask_operator");
 });
 
+test("sub-agent report contract does not claim the worker cannot receive answers", () => {
+  const withoutAsk = buildSubAgentReportContract();
+  const withAsk = buildSubAgentReportContract({ askDirector: true });
+  expect(withoutAsk).not.toContain("you cannot receive answers");
+  expect(withoutAsk).not.toContain("Do not ask the parent questions");
+  expect(withAsk).not.toContain("you cannot receive answers");
+  expect(withAsk).not.toContain("You cannot reach the operator");
+});
+
 test("sub-agent report contract treats Success criteria as completion gate", () => {
   const contract = buildSubAgentReportContract();
   expect(contract).toContain("Success criteria");

src/subagent/index.test.ts

@@ -1312,6 +1312,7 @@ describe("submit_result turn token notice", () => {
     expect(formatTurnTokenNotice(token)).toContain(
       "A mismatched token means this turn was superseded",
     );
+    expect(formatTurnTokenNotice(token)).not.toMatch(/do not resubmit/i);
     // Non-leaf dispatches state no token.
     expect(
       buildDispatchBrief({ description: "plain", prompt: "do the thing" }),

src/subagent/report.ts

@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ export function formatTurnTokenNotice(turnToken: string): string {
   return [
     "## Turn token",
     turnToken,
-    `If you call submit_result, pass turn_token="${turnToken}" exactly. A mismatched token means this turn was superseded — do not resubmit under it.`,
+    `If you call submit_result, pass turn_token="${turnToken}" exactly. A mismatched token means this turn was superseded.`,
   ].join("\n");
 }
 

src/subagent/submit-result.test.ts

@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ describe("evaluateSubmitResult", () => {
     });
     expect(outcome.ok).toBe(false);
     expect(outcome.message).toContain("turn_token does not match");
+    expect(outcome.message).not.toMatch(/do not resubmit/i);
     expect(state.corrections).toBe(0);
   });
 

src/subagent/submit-result.ts

@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ export function evaluateSubmitResult(input: SubmitResultInput): {
     return {
       ok: false,
       message:
-        "Error: turn_token does not match this turn — this dispatch was superseded. Do not resubmit.",
+        "Error: turn_token does not match this turn — this dispatch was superseded.",
     };
   }
   if (input.state.corrections >= cap) {