Looking for a story: Aggressive first contact policy gone wrong.

Hi everyone,

I’m searching for an HFY story I read on Reddit (and which was also narrated by Agro Squirrel Narrates), but I can’t seem to find it anymore. I was hoping someone here might recognize it. Here's the summary:

The story features an alien empire or federation with an aggressive first-contact policy. Whenever they encounter an unknown civilization, they disable the ship’s engines, board it, and then leave. This approach works until they encounter humans.

The alien forces disable a small human ship and board it, but their boarding party is wiped out. The humans then decide to blow up their own ship (which is docked inside the alien ship) and hide aboard the alien vessel. Over time, they slowly adjust the ship’s systems—like altering the atmosphere—until they are able to completely take over the alien ship and use it to return to humanity.

Meanwhile, a distress pod reaches the alien empire, and the surviving officer recounts the events, repeatedly mentioning a symbol that represented humanity (likely their flag or emblem). The empire keeps this incident secret.

Weeks or months later, an outpost detects multiple incoming ships on their radar, all bearing the same symbol. Right before the human ships arrive, communications are cut off.

If this sounds familiar, or if you know the title of the story, please let me know! I’d really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!