diff --git a/tools/transcription_audio.py b/tools/transcription_audio.py
index 069a3d957b..15413f370a 100644
--- a/tools/transcription_audio.py
+++ b/tools/transcription_audio.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ _STT_M4A_ENCODE_ARGS = ("-vn", "-ac", "1", "-ar", "16000", "-c:a", "aac", "-b:a"
 
 
 def _run_ffmpeg_stt_encode(ffmpeg: str, input_path: str, output_path: str, *, audio_filter: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
-    """Run the shared STT m4a encode, optionally with an ``-af`` filter. Raises on failure (callers own the semantics)."""
+    """Run the shared STT m4a encode, optionally with an ``-af`` filter. Raises on failure; callers own the semantics."""
     command = [ffmpeg, "-y", "-i", input_path]
     if audio_filter:
         command += ["-af", audio_filter]
@@ -236,7 +236,9 @@ def _probe_audio_duration(file_path: str) -> Optional[float]:
     ffprobe = _find_ffprobe_binary()
     if not ffprobe:
         return None
-    command = [ffprobe, "-v", "error", "-show_entries", "format=duration", "-of", "default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1", file_path]
+    command = [
+        ffprobe, "-v", "error", "-show_entries", "format=duration", "-of", "default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1", file_path,
+    ]
     try:
         return float(_run_quiet(command, timeout=30).stdout.strip())
     except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001 - probe is best-effort
diff --git a/tools/transcription_cloud.py b/tools/transcription_cloud.py
index 0148afa7e7..a1d20f9d51 100644
--- a/tools/transcription_cloud.py
+++ b/tools/transcription_cloud.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 """Cloud STT providers.
 
-OpenAI-SDK-shaped backends (groq, openai, deepinfra), Mistral Voxtral, the REST
-multipart backends (xAI, ElevenLabs), and OpenAI audio credential resolution
-(config > keyless local server > env > managed Nous gateway). Every name is
-re-imported by ``tools/transcription_tools.py`` (patch surface), which is
-imported lazily here so origin patches still intercept.
+OpenAI-SDK-shaped backends (groq, openai, deepinfra), Mistral Voxtral, REST multipart
+backends (xAI, ElevenLabs), and OpenAI audio credential resolution (config > keyless
+local server > env > managed Nous gateway). Every name is re-imported by
+``tools/transcription_tools.py`` (patch surface), imported lazily here so origin
+patches still intercept.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -35,11 +35,7 @@ def _has_xai_stt_credentials() -> bool:
 
 
 def _with_openai_client(api_key: str, base_url: Optional[str], file_path: str, log_label: str, body):
-    """Run ``body(client)`` against a fresh OpenAI SDK client (30s timeout, no SDK retries).
-
-    Always closes the client; any exception maps to the shared envelope via
-    :func:`_openai_sdk_failure`.
-    """
+    """Run ``body(client)`` on a fresh OpenAI SDK client (30s timeout, no retries); always closed, errors -> envelope."""
     try:
         from openai import OpenAI
         client = OpenAI(api_key=api_key, base_url=base_url, timeout=30, max_retries=0)
@@ -64,8 +60,8 @@ def _cloud_failure(exc: BaseException, file_path: str, label: str, detail: Optio
 def _openai_sdk_failure(exc: BaseException, file_path: str, log_label: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """Map an OpenAI-SDK-shaped exception to the shared error envelope.
 
-    Order matters: APIConnectionError is checked before APITimeoutError (its
-    subclass) so timeouts report as connection errors, as they always have.
+    APIConnectionError is checked before APITimeoutError (its subclass) so timeouts
+    report as connection errors, as they always have.
     """
     try:
         from openai import APIError, APIConnectionError, APITimeoutError
@@ -93,11 +89,7 @@ def _sdk_prompt_kwargs(language: Optional[str], prompt: Optional[str]) -> Dict[s
 def _transcribe_groq(
     file_path: str, model_name: str, *, language: Optional[str] = None, prompt: Optional[str] = None
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-    """Transcribe using Groq Whisper API (free tier available).
-
-    Language: hook override > ``stt.groq.language`` > ``stt.language`` > env;
-    otherwise Groq auto-detects.
-    """
+    """Transcribe via the Groq Whisper API; language: hook > ``stt.groq.language`` > ``stt.language`` > env > auto."""
     from tools.transcription_tools import _HAS_OPENAI, _resolve_provider_key, _resolve_stt_language
     api_key = _resolve_provider_key("GROQ_API_KEY", "groq")
     if not api_key:
@@ -131,9 +123,8 @@ def _transcribe_openai(
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """Transcribe via the OpenAI ``audio.transcriptions.create`` SDK shape.
 
-    Shared backend for every OpenAI-compatible STT endpoint (DeepInfra etc.):
-    callers pass explicit ``api_key``/``base_url`` to skip the OpenAI-only auth
-    chain and a ``provider_label`` for the response's ``provider``.
+    Shared by every OpenAI-compatible endpoint (DeepInfra etc.): explicit ``api_key``/
+    ``base_url`` skip the OpenAI-only auth chain; ``provider_label`` names the response's provider.
     """
     from tools.transcription_tools import _HAS_OPENAI, _resolve_openai_audio_client_config, _resolve_stt_language
     if api_key is None:
@@ -149,8 +140,7 @@ def _transcribe_openai(
     if not _HAS_OPENAI:
         return _error_result("openai package not installed")
 
-    # Auto-correct a Groq-only model on the native OpenAI path only —
-    # third-party endpoints may legitimately serve a whisper-large-v3 variant.
+    # Auto-correct a Groq-only model on the native OpenAI path only (third-party endpoints may serve it).
     if provider_label == "openai" and model_name in GROQ_MODELS:
         logger.info("Model %s not available on OpenAI, using %s", model_name, DEFAULT_STT_MODEL)
         model_name = DEFAULT_STT_MODEL
@@ -167,14 +157,12 @@ def _transcribe_openai(
                 }
                 if language:
                     if model_name == "gpt-transcribe":
-                        # gpt-transcribe replaces ``language`` with a ``languages``
-                        # list and rejects requests sending the legacy field.
+                        # gpt-transcribe takes a ``languages`` list and rejects the legacy field.
                         create_kwargs["extra_body"] = {"languages": [language]}
                     else:
                         create_kwargs["language"] = language
                     logger.debug("Using language hint '%s' for OpenAI STT", language)
-                if prompt:
-                    # Only sent when set so the no-hook, no-config request stays byte-identical.
+                if prompt:  # only when set so the bare request stays byte-identical
                     create_kwargs["prompt"] = prompt
                 return client.audio.transcriptions.create(**create_kwargs)
 
@@ -185,8 +173,7 @@ def _transcribe_openai(
                 message = str(exc).lower()
                 if not any(k in message for k in ("unsupported", "corrupted", "invalid file")):
                     raise
-                # Newer models reject some containers whisper-1 accepted
-                # (notably Ogg/Opus voice notes): transcode to m4a, retry once.
+                # Newer models reject containers whisper-1 accepted (Ogg/Opus voice notes): transcode, retry once.
                 converted_path, transcode_error = _transcode_audio_for_stt(file_path, work_dir)
                 if transcode_error:
                     return _error_result(transcode_error)
@@ -255,11 +242,10 @@ def _post_audio_multipart(url: str, headers: Dict[str, str], file_path: str, dat
 
 
 def _rest_transcript(response, label: str, extract_detail, extract_text):
-    """Turn a multipart STT response into ``(text, body, None)`` or ``(None, None, error_envelope)``.
+    """Multipart STT response -> ``(text, body, None)`` or ``(None, None, error_envelope)``.
 
-    Non-200 -> ``"<label> API error (HTTP n): detail"`` (JSON detail via
-    *extract_detail*, else the first 300 body chars); empty text -> the
-    ``no_speech`` envelope so callers treat silence as non-fatal.
+    Non-200 -> ``"<label> API error (HTTP n): detail"`` (JSON detail via *extract_detail*, else
+    the first 300 body chars); empty text -> the ``no_speech`` envelope (silence is non-fatal).
     """
     if response.status_code != 200:
         try:
@@ -299,9 +285,8 @@ def _transcribe_xai(
     if prompt:
         _log_prompt_unsupported("STT provider 'xai'")
 
-    # STT is API-billed: prefer the explicit XAI_API_KEY over the general xAI
-    # OAuth/Grok-subscription credential, which may be valid for Grok yet hit
-    # personal-team spending-limit errors on /v1/stt.
+    # STT is API-billed: prefer the explicit XAI_API_KEY over the xAI OAuth/Grok-subscription
+    # credential, which may be valid for Grok yet hit spending-limit errors on /v1/stt.
     direct_api_key = str(get_env_value("XAI_API_KEY") or "").strip()
     if direct_api_key:
         creds = {
@@ -319,8 +304,7 @@ def _transcribe_xai(
     xai_config = stt_config.get("xai") or {}
 
     def _resolve_base_url(resolved_creds: Dict[str, str]) -> str:
-        # OAuth bearers are pinned to the resolver-validated xAI origin;
-        # config/env base URL overrides only apply to API-key credentials.
+        # OAuth bearers are pinned to the resolver-validated origin; overrides apply to API keys only.
         if resolved_creds.get("provider") == "xai-oauth":
             url = resolved_creds.get("base_url")
         else:
@@ -454,12 +438,8 @@ def _transcribe_deepinfra(
 
 
 def _is_local_or_private_url(url: str) -> bool:
-    """True for loopback/RFC-1918/LAN-internal hosts.
-
-    Decides whether an empty ``stt.openai.api_key`` is acceptable: local
-    OpenAI-compatible STT servers ignore the auth header, so users shouldn't
-    need a sham ``api_key: not-needed``.
-    """
+    """True for loopback/RFC-1918/LAN-internal hosts, where an empty ``stt.openai.api_key`` is acceptable
+    (local OpenAI-compatible servers ignore the auth header — no sham ``api_key: not-needed`` needed)."""
     try:
         from urllib.parse import urlparse
         import ipaddress
@@ -476,11 +456,8 @@ def _is_local_or_private_url(url: str) -> bool:
 
 
 def _direct_openai_credentials(cfg_api_key: str, cfg_base_url: str) -> Optional[tuple[str, str]]:
-    """Direct-credential ladder: config key > keyless local base_url > env key; None if none apply.
-
-    A local OpenAI-compatible server needs no key — send a placeholder so the
-    SDK doesn't refuse to construct a client.
-    """
+    """Direct-credential ladder: config key > keyless local base_url (placeholder key so the SDK
+    constructs a client) > env key; None if none apply."""
     from tools.transcription_tools import resolve_openai_audio_api_key
     if cfg_api_key:
         return cfg_api_key, (cfg_base_url or OPENAI_BASE_URL)
@@ -493,16 +470,10 @@ def _direct_openai_credentials(cfg_api_key: str, cfg_base_url: str) -> Optional[
 
 
 def _resolve_openai_audio_client_config() -> tuple[str, str]:
-    """Return ``(api_key, base_url)`` for the OpenAI STT client.
-
-    Strict selection semantics on the stored ``stt`` provider string:
-    - ``"nous"`` → managed gateway ONLY; unentitled/unreachable is a
-      selection-naming error (a direct OPENAI_API_KEY must NOT override it).
-    - any other stored provider → direct credentials ONLY; missing credentials
-      is a selection-naming error — no silent managed fallback.
-    - never-configured stt section → legacy ladder: direct credentials, then
-      the managed gateway.
-    """
+    """``(api_key, base_url)`` for the OpenAI STT client, strict on the stored ``stt`` selection:
+    ``"nous"`` -> managed gateway ONLY (a direct OPENAI_API_KEY must NOT override it); any other
+    stored provider -> direct credentials ONLY (no silent managed fallback); never-configured ->
+    legacy ladder: direct credentials, then the managed gateway. Failures raise ValueError."""
     from tools.transcription_tools import (
         _load_stt_config, managed_nous_tools_enabled, nous_tool_gateway_unavailable_message,
         resolve_managed_tool_gateway,
diff --git a/tools/transcription_command.py b/tools/transcription_command.py
index c9c54e9242..52e00c3dea 100644
--- a/tools/transcription_command.py
+++ b/tools/transcription_command.py
@@ -154,11 +154,10 @@ def _dispatch_to_plugin_provider(
 ) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
     """Route to a plugin-registered transcription provider; None when no plugin claims the name.
 
-    Invariants re-verified here (a caller refactor can't silently break them):
-    built-in names never reach the registry; a same-name ``stt.providers.<name>:
-    type: command`` wins over a plugin. A matched plugin with ``is_available() ==
-    False`` returns an error envelope — not None — because the user explicitly
-    opted in via ``stt.provider``. Provider exceptions become the error envelope.
+    Invariants re-verified here so a caller refactor can't break them: built-in names never
+    reach the registry; a same-name command provider wins over a plugin. A matched plugin with
+    ``is_available() == False`` returns an error envelope — not None — because the user
+    explicitly opted in via ``stt.provider``. Provider exceptions become the error envelope.
     """
     if not provider:
         return None
@@ -216,8 +215,7 @@ def _dispatch_to_plugin_provider(
     return result
 
 
-# Fields a pre_transcription hook may mutate. ``file_path`` is read-only —
-# attempts to change it are logged and dropped.
+# Fields a pre_transcription hook may mutate; ``file_path`` is read-only (logged and dropped).
 _PRE_TRANSCRIPTION_MUTABLE_FIELDS = ("prompt", "language", "model")
 
 # Whisper-family models only use the final ~224 tokens of the prompt; longer values
@@ -229,11 +227,8 @@ _WHISPER_PROMPT_CAPPED_PROVIDERS = frozenset({"local", "openai", "groq", "deepin
 
 
 def _enforce_prompt_length_limit(prompt: Optional[str], provider: str) -> Optional[str]:
-    """Truncate *prompt* to the whisper-family token cap, keeping the TAIL (fail-open).
-
-    Whisper conditions on the final context window, so the most recently
-    appended hints survive. Other providers own their own validation.
-    """
+    """Truncate *prompt* to the whisper-family token cap, keeping the TAIL (whisper conditions
+    on the final context window, so the newest hints survive). Other providers self-validate."""
     if not prompt or provider not in _WHISPER_PROMPT_CAPPED_PROVIDERS:
         return prompt
     max_chars = _WHISPER_PROMPT_TOKEN_CAP * _PROMPT_CHARS_PER_TOKEN
@@ -251,17 +246,12 @@ def _apply_pre_transcription_hook(
     *, file_path: str, provider: str, model: Optional[str], language: Optional[str],
     prompt: Optional[str], source: Optional[str],
 ) -> tuple[Optional[str], Optional[str], Optional[str]]:
-    """Fire the ``pre_transcription`` plugin hook and merge its results.
+    """Fire the ``pre_transcription`` plugin hook; returns ``(model, language_override, prompt)``.
 
-    Gated on ``has_hook`` so the no-hook path never builds hook kwargs, and
-    fail-open: any hook-plumbing error leaves the dispatch untouched. Results
-    arrive in registration order and are applied field-by-field, so the last
-    hook to write a field wins. Model values flow through the same per-backend
-    normalization a caller-supplied model would.
-
-    Returns ``(model, language_override, prompt)``; ``language_override`` is
-    None unless a hook explicitly set ``language``, so backends keep their own
-    config/env language resolution.
+    Gated on ``has_hook`` (the no-hook path never builds kwargs) and fail-open: any
+    plumbing error leaves the dispatch untouched. Results apply field-by-field in
+    registration order (last hook wins). ``language_override`` is None unless a hook
+    explicitly set ``language``, so backends keep their own config/env resolution.
     """
     try:
         from hermes_cli.plugins import has_hook, invoke_hook
diff --git a/tools/transcription_tools.py b/tools/transcription_tools.py
index 37165851e9..a93d28bdc1 100644
--- a/tools/transcription_tools.py
+++ b/tools/transcription_tools.py
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 """Speech-to-text transcription used by the gateway for voice messages.
 
-Built-in providers: local (faster-whisper, default/free), local_command, groq,
-openai (also serves the managed ``nous`` selection), mistral, xai, elevenlabs,
-deepinfra; plus user-declared command providers and plugin providers.
-
-    result = transcribe_audio("/path/to/audio.ogg")   # {"success", "transcript", "error"?, "provider"?}
-
-This module owns provider resolution, the dispatcher, and the cached local model +
-idle-unload state. Backends live in ``transcription_{common,audio,local,cloud,command}``
-and are re-imported here so ``tools.transcription_tools.<name>`` stays the patch surface.
+Built-in providers: local (faster-whisper, default/free), local_command, groq, openai
+(also serves the managed ``nous`` selection), mistral, xai, elevenlabs, deepinfra; plus
+user-declared command providers and plugin providers. ``transcribe_audio(path)`` returns
+``{"success", "transcript", "error"?, "provider"?}``. This module owns provider resolution,
+the dispatcher and the cached local model + idle-unload state; backends live in
+``transcription_{common,audio,local,cloud,command}`` and are re-imported here so
+``tools.transcription_tools.<name>`` stays the patch surface.
 """
 
 import logging
@@ -68,11 +66,7 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 def get_env_value(name, default=None):
-    """Read env values through the live config module.
-
-    Resolved at call time: tests monkeypatch/restore ``hermes_cli.config.get_env_value``
-    around this module's import, so a cached import would go stale.
-    """
+    """Read env values through the live config module (resolved per call: tests monkeypatch it around import)."""
     try:
         from hermes_cli.config import get_env_value as _get_env_value
     except ImportError:
@@ -82,9 +76,9 @@ def get_env_value(name, default=None):
 
 
 def _resolve_provider_key(env_var: str, provider_id: str) -> str:
-    """Resolve an STT API key via the shared voice-key resolver (config > env/.env > credential pool).
+    """STT API key via the shared voice-key resolver (config > env/.env > credential pool).
 
-    Resolved at call time so tests that reload the helpers module see the live function.
+    Resolved per call so tests that reload the helpers module see the live function.
     """
     try:
         from tools.tool_backend_helpers import resolve_provider_secret
@@ -106,16 +100,14 @@ _HAS_MISTRAL = _safe_find_spec("mistralai")
 _HAS_PILK = _safe_find_spec("pilk")
 
 
-# Singleton for the local model — loaded once, reused across calls. The lock
-# guards the check-then-load so two concurrent voice messages can't both load.
+# Local model singleton; the lock guards check-then-load against concurrent voice messages.
 _local_model: Optional[object] = None
 _local_model_name: Optional[str] = None
 _local_model_lock = threading.Lock()
 
-# Idle unload: a single daemon thread checks _last_transcription_time and releases
-# the model (hundreds of MB of RAM/VRAM) after a configurable idle period, then
-# exits; the next voice message reloads and restarts it. _idle_unload_mgmt_lock
-# serializes the start check so concurrent transcriptions can't spawn duplicates.
+# Idle unload: one daemon thread releases the model (hundreds of MB of RAM/VRAM) after a
+# configurable idle period, then exits; the next voice message reloads and restarts it.
+# _idle_unload_mgmt_lock serializes the start check so no duplicate watchers spawn.
 _last_transcription_time: float = 0.0
 _idle_unload_thread: Optional[threading.Thread] = None
 _idle_unload_stop = threading.Event()
@@ -146,11 +138,10 @@ def is_stt_enabled(stt_config: Optional[dict] = None) -> bool:
 def _resolve_stt_language(
     provider_key: str, stt_config: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None, *, extra_keys: tuple = ()
 ) -> Optional[str]:
-    """Resolve the language hint for an STT provider; first non-empty wins.
+    """Language hint for an STT provider, first non-empty wins (never "").
 
-    Order: ``stt.<provider>.language`` (plus *extra_keys* aliases, e.g. ElevenLabs'
-    ``language_code``) > ``stt.language`` > ``HERMES_LOCAL_STT_LANGUAGE`` env >
-    None (provider auto-detects). Never returns "".
+    ``stt.<provider>.language`` (plus *extra_keys* aliases, e.g. ``language_code``) >
+    ``stt.language`` > ``HERMES_LOCAL_STT_LANGUAGE`` env > None (provider auto-detects).
     """
     if stt_config is None:
         stt_config = _load_stt_config()
@@ -189,9 +180,7 @@ def _is_local_stt_provider(provider: str, stt_config: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
 def _has_key(env_var: str, provider: str, *, needs_openai: bool = False, needs_mistral: bool = False):
     """Availability probe factory: optional SDK flag AND a resolvable API key."""
     def probe() -> bool:
-        if needs_openai and not _HAS_OPENAI:
-            return False
-        if needs_mistral and not _HAS_MISTRAL:
+        if (needs_openai and not _HAS_OPENAI) or (needs_mistral and not _HAS_MISTRAL):
             return False
         return bool(_resolve_provider_key(env_var, provider))
     return probe
@@ -208,8 +197,7 @@ def _resolve_explicit_openai() -> str:
     if not _HAS_OPENAI:
         logger.warning("STT provider 'openai' configured but no API key available")
         return "none"
-    # Resolve directly rather than via the boolean probe so a managed openai-audio
-    # gateway outage is logged with its real reason, not a generic "no API key" hint.
+    # Resolved directly so a managed openai-audio gateway outage is logged with its real reason.
     reason = _openai_audio_unavailable_reason()
     if reason is None:
         return "openai"
@@ -232,7 +220,10 @@ def _resolve_explicit_local() -> str:
     backend = _detect_local_backend()
     if backend:
         return backend
-    logger.warning("STT provider 'local' configured but unavailable (install faster-whisper or set HERMES_LOCAL_STT_COMMAND)")
+    logger.warning(
+        "STT provider 'local' configured but unavailable "
+        "(install faster-whisper or set HERMES_LOCAL_STT_COMMAND)"
+    )
     return "none"
 
 
@@ -253,11 +244,10 @@ _has_deepinfra_key = _has_key("DEEPINFRA_API_KEY", "deepinfra", needs_openai=Tru
 
 # Cloud providers in AUTO-DETECT priority order:
 #   name -> (explicit-selection probe, auto-detect probe, explicit warning, auto-detect log)
-# The two probes differ only for openai (auto-detect additionally requires the SDK;
-# explicit has its own resolver that logs the real gateway reason) and xai
-# (auto-detect must never raise). DeepInfra is LAST so a DEEPINFRA_API_KEY set for
-# the chat surface never displaces an existing xAI/ElevenLabs auto-selection. Mistral
-# only auto-selects when the SDK is already present — no lazy-install during passive
+# The probes differ only for openai (explicit has its own resolver in _EXPLICIT_RESOLVERS;
+# auto-detect also requires the SDK) and xai (auto-detect must never raise). DeepInfra is
+# LAST so a DEEPINFRA_API_KEY set for chat never displaces an xAI/ElevenLabs auto-selection.
+# Mistral only auto-selects when the SDK is present — no lazy-install during passive
 # auto-detection (explicit ``provider: mistral`` installs on first use).
 _CLOUD_PROVIDER_SPECS = {
     "groq": (
@@ -301,11 +291,8 @@ _EXPLICIT_RESOLVERS = {
 
 
 def _resolve_explicit_provider(provider: str) -> str:
-    """Resolve an explicit ``stt.provider`` to a usable provider name or ``"none"``.
-
-    Unknown names pass through untouched so the dispatcher can fail with the
-    provider-not-registered message.
-    """
+    """Explicit ``stt.provider`` -> usable name or ``"none"``; unknown names pass through untouched
+    so the dispatcher fails with the provider-not-registered message."""
     resolver = _EXPLICIT_RESOLVERS.get(provider)
     if resolver is not None:
         return resolver()
@@ -320,27 +307,21 @@ def _resolve_explicit_provider(provider: str) -> str:
 
 
 def _get_provider(stt_config: dict) -> str:
-    """Determine which STT provider to use.
-
-    An explicit ``stt.provider`` is honoured — no silent cloud fallback. With no
-    provider configured, auto-detect tries local > groq > openai > mistral > xai
-    > elevenlabs > deepinfra.
-    """
+    """Which STT provider to use: an explicit ``stt.provider`` is honoured (no silent cloud
+    fallback); otherwise auto-detect local > groq > openai > mistral > xai > elevenlabs > deepinfra."""
     if not is_stt_enabled(stt_config):
         return "none"
 
     explicit = "provider" in stt_config
     provider = stt_config.get("provider", DEFAULT_PROVIDER)
 
-    # The managed "Nous Subscription" selection is serviced by the OpenAI implementation,
-    # routed through the managed gateway by _resolve_openai_audio_client_config.
+    # The managed "Nous Subscription" selection is the OpenAI backend routed via the managed gateway.
     if isinstance(provider, str) and provider.strip().lower() == "nous":
         provider = "openai"
 
     if explicit and provider == "local":
-        # Legacy DEFAULT_CONFIG seeded ``stt.provider: local`` on every install, so a
-        # merged-config "local" is not proof of a user pick. Only a raw config.yaml
-        # selection counts as explicit; otherwise autodetect (which prefers local anyway).
+        # Legacy DEFAULT_CONFIG seeded ``stt.provider: local`` on every install, so only a
+        # raw config.yaml selection counts as explicit; otherwise autodetect (local-first anyway).
         try:
             from tools.tool_backend_helpers import read_selection
 
@@ -378,12 +359,10 @@ def _unload_local_model() -> None:
 def _start_idle_unload_watcher(timeout_seconds: int) -> None:
     """Ensure the single idle-unload watcher thread is running.
 
-    Started only when none is alive (one lock + one ``is_alive()`` per transcription).
-    The loop re-reads ``stt.local.unload_after_idle_seconds`` every cycle so config
-    edits apply within one interval; ``timeout_seconds`` seeds the first cycle so a
-    just-written config is honored even if a concurrent read races. After unloading,
-    when the timeout becomes 0, or when the model is already gone, the thread exits;
-    the next transcription restarts it.
+    The loop re-reads ``stt.local.unload_after_idle_seconds`` every cycle so config edits
+    apply within one interval; ``timeout_seconds`` seeds the first cycle so a just-written
+    config is honored even if a concurrent read races. The thread exits after unloading,
+    when the timeout becomes 0, or when the model is already gone.
     """
     global _idle_unload_thread
     with _idle_unload_mgmt_lock:
@@ -419,11 +398,9 @@ def _touch_transcription_time() -> None:
 
 
 def _get_or_load_local_model(model_name: str, local_cfg: Dict[str, Any]):
-    """Return the cached faster-whisper model, (re)loading under the lock when needed.
+    """Cached faster-whisper model, (re)loaded under a double-checked lock when needed.
 
-    Double-checked lock: concurrent voice messages must not both download/load.
-    The returned strong reference stays valid even if the idle watcher nulls the
-    module global mid-transcription.
+    The returned strong reference stays valid even if the idle watcher nulls the global mid-transcription.
     """
     global _local_model, _local_model_name
     model = _local_model
@@ -431,8 +408,7 @@ def _get_or_load_local_model(model_name: str, local_cfg: Dict[str, Any]):
         with _local_model_lock:
             if _local_model is None or _local_model_name != model_name:
                 logger.info("Loading faster-whisper model '%s' (first load downloads the model)...", model_name)
-                # stt.local.device / compute_type let users pin a configuration
-                # where ``auto`` mis-detects; the loader keeps the CUDA→CPU fallback.
+                # stt.local.device / compute_type pin a configuration where ``auto`` mis-detects.
                 _local_model = _load_local_whisper_model(
                     model_name, device=local_cfg.get("device", "auto"),
                     compute_type=local_cfg.get("compute_type", "auto"),
@@ -463,8 +439,7 @@ def _transcribe_local(
     try:
         stt_config = _load_stt_config()
         local_cfg = stt_config.get("local") or {}
-        # Reset the idle timer BEFORE loading/transcribing so the watcher can't
-        # count a long in-flight transcription as idle time and unload mid-use.
+        # Reset the idle timer BEFORE loading so a long in-flight transcription isn't counted as idle.
         _touch_transcription_time()
         model = _get_or_load_local_model(model_name, local_cfg)
         if model is None:  # defensive: load failed without raising
@@ -480,9 +455,8 @@ def _transcribe_local(
         try:
             segments, info = model.transcribe(file_path, **transcribe_kwargs)
         except Exception as exc:
-            # CUDA libs sometimes only fail at dlopen-on-first-use, AFTER the model
-            # loaded. Evict the poisoned cached model, reload on CPU and retry once —
-            # otherwise every later voice message fails until restart.
+            # CUDA libs can fail at dlopen-on-first-use, AFTER loading: evict the poisoned
+            # cached model, reload on CPU and retry once, else every later message fails.
             if not _looks_like_cuda_lib_error(exc):
                 raise
             logger.warning(
@@ -515,8 +489,8 @@ def _transcribe_local(
 
 
 def _read_block_error(file_path: str) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
-    """Refuse to ship a credential / secret store (auth.json, .env, OAuth tokens) to an STT
-    provider in plaintext. Mirrors the image-gen / video-gen read guards."""
+    """Refuse to ship a credential store (auth.json, .env, OAuth tokens) to an STT provider.
+    Mirrors the image-gen / video-gen read guards."""
     from agent.file_safety import get_read_block_error
     blocked = get_read_block_error(file_path)
     return _error_result(blocked) if blocked else None
@@ -527,16 +501,15 @@ def _transcribe_prepared_audio(
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """Transcribe a validated audio file with the configured STT provider.
 
-    ``model`` overrides the config/provider default; ``source`` is a caller-surface
-    label (``"gateway"``, ``"voice_mode"``) forwarded to the ``pre_transcription``
-    hook for observability only. Returns the standard result envelope.
+    ``model`` overrides the config default; ``source`` is a caller-surface label
+    (``"gateway"``, ``"voice_mode"``) forwarded to the ``pre_transcription`` hook only.
     """
     blocked = _read_block_error(file_path)
     if blocked:
         return blocked
 
-    # Validate before provider resolution so invalid files cannot trigger provider
-    # setup or lazy installation. The remote-upload size cap applies to non-local only.
+    # Validate before provider resolution so invalid files can't trigger provider setup
+    # or lazy installation; the remote-upload size cap applies to non-local only.
     error = _validate_audio_file(file_path, enforce_size_limit=False)
     if error:
         return error
@@ -572,9 +545,8 @@ def _transcribe_prepared_audio(
             shutil.rmtree(trim_cleanup_dir, ignore_errors=True)
 
 
-# Built-in provider -> (stt section, config key, default, treat-empty-as-missing).
-# "local_command" shares the ``stt.local`` section; xAI takes no model parameter
-# (the name is logging-only); deepinfra resolves from the live catalog when empty.
+# Built-in provider -> (stt section, config key, default, treat-empty-as-missing). "local_command"
+# shares ``stt.local``; xAI takes no model (logging-only); deepinfra uses the live catalog when empty.
 _BUILTIN_MODEL_KEYS = {
     "local": ("local", "model", DEFAULT_LOCAL_MODEL, False),
     "local_command": ("local", "model", DEFAULT_LOCAL_MODEL, False),
@@ -604,14 +576,12 @@ def _dispatch_stt_provider(
     source: Optional[str] = None,
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """Route *file_path* to the handler for *provider* (built-in > command > plugin)."""
-    # Static ``stt.prompt`` is the base; pre_transcription hook results mutate
-    # on top in registration order (last hook to set a field wins).
+    # Static ``stt.prompt`` is the base; hook results mutate on top (last hook to set a field wins).
     prompt = stt_config.get("prompt")
     if not isinstance(prompt, str) or not prompt.strip():
         prompt = None
 
-    # The hook fires after provider resolution and BEFORE any backend is
-    # invoked; ``language`` stays None unless a hook overrides it.
+    # Fires after provider resolution and BEFORE any backend; ``language`` stays None unless a hook sets it.
     model, language, prompt = _apply_pre_transcription_hook(
         file_path=file_path, provider=provider, model=model,
         language=_get_stt_section(stt_config, provider).get("language"),
@@ -627,9 +597,8 @@ def _dispatch_stt_provider(
             model_name = _normalize_local_model(model_name)
         return handler(file_path, model_name, language=language, prompt=prompt)
 
-    # User-declared command provider: after built-ins (so ``stt.providers.openai
-    # .command`` can't override the real handler) and BEFORE plugins, because
-    # config is more local than a plugin install (same precedence as TTS).
+    # Command providers: after built-ins (``stt.providers.openai.command`` can't override the
+    # real handler) and BEFORE plugins, since config is more local than a plugin install.
     command_provider_config = _resolve_command_stt_provider_config(provider, stt_config)
     if command_provider_config is not None:
         return _transcribe_command_stt(
@@ -637,8 +606,7 @@ def _dispatch_stt_provider(
             model_override=model, language_override=language, prompt=prompt,
         )
 
-    # Plugin-registered backend. Plugins read per-provider config under
-    # ``stt.<provider>`` like built-ins; the ``model`` argument overrides it.
+    # Plugin backend: reads ``stt.<provider>`` like built-ins; the ``model`` argument overrides it.
     plugin_cfg = _get_stt_section(stt_config, provider)
     plugin_result = _dispatch_to_plugin_provider(
         file_path, provider, stt_config, model=model or plugin_cfg.get("model"),
@@ -655,8 +623,7 @@ def _no_provider_error(provider: str, stt_config: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, A
     if "provider" in stt_config and provider_key and provider_key not in BUILTIN_STT_PROVIDERS and provider_key != "none":
         return _unregistered_stt_provider_error(provider_key)
 
-    # An explicit openai selection flattened to "none" carries a selection-specific
-    # reason (e.g. managed openai-audio gateway down); surface it with its remediation.
+    # An explicit openai selection flattened to "none" has a specific reason (e.g. managed gateway down).
     if provider_key == "none" and str(stt_config.get("provider") or "") == "openai" and _HAS_OPENAI:
         reason = _openai_audio_unavailable_reason()
         if reason is not None:
@@ -675,20 +642,18 @@ def _no_provider_error(provider: str, stt_config: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, A
 def transcribe_audio(
     file_path: str, model: Optional[str] = None, source: Optional[str] = None
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-    """Safely validate, preprocess supported inputs, and dispatch transcription.
+    """Validate, preprocess supported inputs, and dispatch transcription.
 
-    ``source`` is an optional caller-surface label (``"gateway"``, ``"voice_mode"``)
-    forwarded to the ``pre_transcription`` hook for observability only.
+    ``source`` is a caller-surface label (``"gateway"``, ``"voice_mode"``) forwarded to
+    the ``pre_transcription`` hook for observability only.
     """
-    # Secret-store refusal runs before ANY validation so the error names the
-    # real reason rather than a format error.
+    # Secret-store refusal runs before ANY validation so the error names the real reason.
     blocked = _read_block_error(file_path)
     if blocked:
         return blocked
 
-    # Cap .silk sources before the decoder runs (decoder safety); for all other
-    # inputs the upload cap is provider-scoped in _transcribe_prepared_audio,
-    # so local whisper can handle big files.
+    # Cap .silk sources before the decoder runs; for other inputs the upload cap is
+    # provider-scoped in _transcribe_prepared_audio so local whisper can take big files.
     is_silk = Path(file_path).suffix.lower() == ".silk"
     source_error = _validate_audio_source_file(file_path, enforce_size_limit=is_silk)
     if source_error:
@@ -713,8 +678,8 @@ def transcribe_audio_local_fallback(
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """Try an already-installed local STT backend without changing config.
 
-    For passive inbound-media recovery after the configured provider failed:
-    never lazy-installs or falls through to a cloud provider.
+    Passive inbound-media recovery after the configured provider failed: never
+    lazy-installs or falls through to a cloud provider.
     """
     error = _validate_audio_file(file_path)
     if error:
diff --git a/tools/tts_command_provider.py b/tools/tts_command_provider.py
index 6fa2ba429e..852d1c48b1 100644
--- a/tools/tts_command_provider.py
+++ b/tools/tts_command_provider.py
@@ -147,7 +147,9 @@ def command_failure_detail(exc: subprocess.CalledProcessError) -> str:
     return "; ".join(parts) or "no command output"
 
 
-def run_command_provider(command: str, timeout: float, env_passthrough: Optional[list] = None) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
+def run_command_provider(
+    command: str, timeout: float, env_passthrough: Optional[list] = None,
+) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
     """Run a command-provider shell command with process-tree idle cleanup.
 
     ``timeout`` is an IDLE timeout, reset whenever the command emits output — a
@@ -280,8 +282,10 @@ def _is_command_provider_config(config: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
     return isinstance(command, str) and bool(command.strip())
 
 
-def _resolve_command_config(provider: str, config: Dict[str, Any], reserved: FrozenSet[str]) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
-    """Provider config when *provider* is a user-declared command provider; None for *reserved* names, unknown or non-command."""
+def _resolve_command_config(
+    provider: str, config: Dict[str, Any], reserved: FrozenSet[str],
+) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    """Config of a user-declared command provider; None for *reserved* names, unknown or non-command."""
     if not provider:
         return None
     key = provider.lower().strip()
@@ -292,7 +296,7 @@ def _resolve_command_config(provider: str, config: Dict[str, Any], reserved: Fro
 
 
 def _command_timeout(config: Dict[str, Any], default: float) -> float:
-    """Timeout in seconds (``timeout`` > ``timeout_seconds``); invalid or non-positive values fall back to *default*."""
+    """Timeout in seconds (``timeout`` > ``timeout_seconds``); invalid or non-positive -> *default*."""
     raw = config.get("timeout", config.get("timeout_seconds", default))
     try:
         value = float(raw)
@@ -363,7 +367,9 @@ def _configured_command_tts_output_path(path: Path, config: Dict[str, Any]) -> P
     return path.with_suffix(f".{_get_command_tts_output_format(config)}")
 
 
-def _generate_command_tts(text: str, output_path: str, provider_name: str, config: Dict[str, Any], tts_config: Dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+def _generate_command_tts(
+    text: str, output_path: str, provider_name: str, config: Dict[str, Any], tts_config: Dict[str, Any],
+) -> str:
     """Generate speech by running a user-configured shell command; returns the audio path it wrote.
 
     Raises ``ValueError`` for invalid provider config and ``RuntimeError`` for
diff --git a/tools/tts_streaming.py b/tools/tts_streaming.py
index 5a93713235..823e48aec1 100644
--- a/tools/tts_streaming.py
+++ b/tools/tts_streaming.py
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ from tools.tts_tool import _get_provider, _load_tts_config, get_env_value
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-# Per-sentence PCM byte cap, mirroring the 16 MiB bounded-body invariant of the
-# sync providers: a buggy or hostile endpoint must not feed unbounded audio.
+# Per-sentence PCM byte cap, mirroring the sync providers' 16 MiB bounded-body invariant.
 _STREAM_SENTENCE_BYTE_CAP = 16 * 1024 * 1024
 
 
@@ -147,9 +146,8 @@ def _try_instantiate(name: str, tts_config: Dict) -> Optional[StreamingTTSProvid
         return None
 
 
-# Fallback priority for ``tts.streaming.provider: auto`` — best chunked
-# latency/quality first. Deliberately hard-coded (a UX decision, not a config
-# knob); edge is absent because it has no chunked-PCM API.
+# Fallback priority for ``tts.streaming.provider: auto`` — best chunked latency/quality
+# first. Deliberately hard-coded (a UX decision); edge is absent (no chunked-PCM API).
 _PROVIDER_PRIORITY: List[str] = ["elevenlabs", "gemini", "openai", "xai"]
 
 
@@ -262,7 +260,9 @@ class GeminiStreamer(StreamingTTSProvider):
 
         import requests
 
-        from tools.tts_tool_providers import DEFAULT_GEMINI_TTS_BASE_URL, DEFAULT_GEMINI_TTS_MODEL, DEFAULT_GEMINI_TTS_VOICE
+        from tools.tts_tool_providers import (
+            DEFAULT_GEMINI_TTS_BASE_URL, DEFAULT_GEMINI_TTS_MODEL, DEFAULT_GEMINI_TTS_VOICE,
+        )
 
         api_key = _gemini_key()
         model = str(self.section.get("model", DEFAULT_GEMINI_TTS_MODEL)).strip() or DEFAULT_GEMINI_TTS_MODEL
@@ -280,7 +280,9 @@ class GeminiStreamer(StreamingTTSProvider):
         url = f"{base_url}/models/{model}:streamGenerateContent"
 
         def _sse_chunks() -> Iterator[bytes]:
-            with requests.post(url, params={"alt": "sse", "key": api_key}, json=payload, timeout=60, stream=True) as response:
+            with requests.post(
+                url, params={"alt": "sse", "key": api_key}, json=payload, timeout=60, stream=True,
+            ) as response:
                 response.raise_for_status()
                 for line in response.iter_lines(decode_unicode=True):
                     if not line or not line.startswith("data: "):
diff --git a/tools/tts_text_normalize.py b/tools/tts_text_normalize.py
index 7632665c32..45213cd9ce 100644
--- a/tools/tts_text_normalize.py
+++ b/tools/tts_text_normalize.py
@@ -81,10 +81,13 @@ def strip_markdown_for_tts(text: str) -> str:
 
 def _normalize_temperature_ranges(text: str) -> str:
     """``11-17°C`` -> ``11 to 17 degrees Celsius`` (en/em dash or hyphen; unicode minus normalized)."""
+    number = r"([-+\u2212]?\d+(?:\.\d+)?)"
     for unit, word in (("C", "Celsius"), ("F", "Fahrenheit")):
         text = re.sub(
-            r"(?<!\w)([-+\u2212]?\d+(?:\.\d+)?)\s*[\u2013\u2014-]\s*([-+\u2212]?\d+(?:\.\d+)?)\s*°\s*" + unit + r"\b",
-            lambda m, w=word: f"{m.group(1).replace(chr(0x2212), '-')} to {m.group(2).replace(chr(0x2212), '-')} degrees {w}",
+            r"(?<!\w)" + number + r"\s*[\u2013\u2014-]\s*" + number + r"\s*°\s*" + unit + r"\b",
+            lambda m, w=word: (
+                f"{m.group(1).replace(chr(0x2212), '-')} to {m.group(2).replace(chr(0x2212), '-')} degrees {w}"
+            ),
             text,
             flags=re.IGNORECASE,
         )
@@ -105,7 +108,9 @@ def normalize_symbols_for_tts(text: str) -> str:
     # Temperatures with a number first, then bare units ("measured in degrees C"),
     # then any remaining degree symbol (angles, stray cases).
     for unit, word in (("C", "Celsius"), ("F", "Fahrenheit")):
-        text = re.sub(r"(?<!\w)([-+]?\d+(?:\.\d+)?)\s*°\s*" + unit + r"\b", r"\1 degrees " + word, text, flags=re.IGNORECASE)
+        text = re.sub(
+            r"(?<!\w)([-+]?\d+(?:\.\d+)?)\s*°\s*" + unit + r"\b", r"\1 degrees " + word, text, flags=re.IGNORECASE,
+        )
     for unit, word in (("C", "Celsius"), ("F", "Fahrenheit")):
         text = re.sub(r"°\s*" + unit + r"\b", "degrees " + word, text, flags=re.IGNORECASE)
     text = re.sub(r"(?<!\w)([-+]?\d+(?:\.\d+)?)\s*°", r"\1 degrees", text)