diff --git a/controller/internal/stacks/unattended.go b/controller/internal/stacks/unattended.go
index 18a8891..98046d6 100644
--- a/controller/internal/stacks/unattended.go
+++ b/controller/internal/stacks/unattended.go
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ func (m *Manager) LastUpdateLegSummary() *UpdateLegSummary {
 		return nil
 	}
 	c := *m.leg.last
-	c.Steps = append([]LegStep(nil), m.leg.last.Steps...)
+	c.Steps = append([]LegStep{}, m.leg.last.Steps...) // R-687: `[]`, never `null`, in the hub report
 	return &c
 }
 
@@ -437,6 +437,8 @@ func (m *Manager) legCandidate(ctx context.Context, name string, o *UpdateLegOpt
 			m.logger.Printf("[INFO] [update-leg] %s: the step may change the app's files and no fresh whole copy exists (%s)", name, why)
 			return e, LegSkipFilesNoCopy
 		}
+		// R-687: the TAKEN case names the copy that allowed it, as the skip names why not.
+		m.logger.Printf("[INFO] [update-leg] %s: the step may change the app's files — taken, a fresh whole copy exists: %s", name, why)
 	}
 	return e, ""
 }
diff --git a/controller/internal/stacks/unattended_test.go b/controller/internal/stacks/unattended_test.go
index 65efd2c..ec1a8cc 100644
--- a/controller/internal/stacks/unattended_test.go
+++ b/controller/internal/stacks/unattended_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package stacks
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -227,13 +228,13 @@ func TestLeg_NeedsPersonIsNeverTaken(t *testing.T) {
 // TestLeg_FilesMayChangeNeedsAWholeCopy — decision 13's other mark: taken only when a fresh WHOLE copy
 // exists (the backup side's truth table, asked through FreshWholeCopy).
 func TestLeg_FilesMayChangeNeedsAWholeCopy(t *testing.T) {
-	m, dir, _, ups, _ := legManager(t)
+	m, dir, _, ups, logBuf := legManager(t)
 	writeLadder(t, m,
 		ladderLineMarks(ladderA, ladderB, "proven", `{"files_may_change": true, "needs_person": null, "memory_tight": false}`),
 		ladderLine(ladderB, ladderC))
 	whole := false
 	legOpts(m, func(o *UpdateLegOptions) {
-		o.FreshWholeCopy = func(context.Context, string) (bool, string) { return whole, "fake" }
+		o.FreshWholeCopy = func(context.Context, string) (bool, string) { return whole, "tier 2 copy from FAKE-TIME" }
 	})
 	s := mustLeg(t, m)
 	if len(*ups) != 0 || legStepFor(s, "nextcloud").Reason != LegSkipFilesNoCopy {
@@ -244,6 +245,10 @@ func TestLeg_FilesMayChangeNeedsAWholeCopy(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(*ups) != 1 || pinOf(t, dir) != ladderB || s.Done != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("with a fresh whole copy the step must be taken: ups=%v pin=%s", *ups, pinOf(t, dir))
 	}
+	// R-687 (v0.273.0): the taken step names the copy that allowed it. COMPANION RED-PROOF: drop the log line.
+	if !strings.Contains(logBuf.String(), "taken, a fresh whole copy exists: tier 2 copy from FAKE-TIME") {
+		t.Fatal("a taken files_may_change step must log which whole copy allowed it")
+	}
 	// unwired check = no whole copy (fail closed)
 	m2, _, _, ups2, _ := legManager(t)
 	writeLadder(t, m2,
@@ -452,3 +457,19 @@ func TestLegDeadline(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// TestR687_EmptyLegReportsEmptySteps — a leg that pressed nothing reports `"steps": []` to the hub, not
+// `null` (read live 2026-09-25 from demo-hp's report). COMPANION RED-PROOF: copy with append(nil, …).
+func TestR687_EmptyLegReportsEmptySteps(t *testing.T) {
+	m, _, _, _, _ := legManager(t)
+	m.leg.mu.Lock()
+	m.leg.last = &UpdateLegSummary{Trigger: "after-offsite", Steps: []LegStep{}}
+	m.leg.mu.Unlock()
+	b, err := json.Marshal(m.LastUpdateLegSummary())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(string(b), `"steps":[]`) {
+		t.Fatalf("an empty leg must report steps as [], got %s", b)
+	}
+}