diff --git a/agent-node/Dockerfile b/agent-node/Dockerfile
index cdddab1..46f0b30 100644
--- a/agent-node/Dockerfile
+++ b/agent-node/Dockerfile
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 # Set environment variables
 ENV PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE 1
 ENV PYTHONUNBUFFERED 1
+ENV PYTHONPATH=/app
 
 # Install system dependencies for psutil and networking tools
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
diff --git a/agent-node/src/agent_node/config.py b/agent-node/src/agent_node/config.py
index a31d17c..d2390ef 100644
--- a/agent-node/src/agent_node/config.py
+++ b/agent-node/src/agent_node/config.py
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@
     NODE_ID = os.getenv("AGENT_NODE_ID", _config.get("node_id", _defaults["node_id"]))
     NODE_DESC = os.getenv("AGENT_NODE_DESC", _config.get("node_description", _defaults["node_description"]))
     SERVER_HOST_PORT = os.getenv("GRPC_ENDPOINT", _config.get("grpc_endpoint", _defaults["grpc_endpoint"]))
-    AUTH_TOKEN = os.getenv("AGENT_AUTH_TOKEN", _config.get("auth_token", _defaults["auth_token"]))
-    SYNC_DIR = os.getenv("CORTEX_SYNC_DIR", _config.get("sync_root", _defaults["sync_root"]))
+    AUTH_TOKEN = os.getenv("AGENT_AUTH_TOKEN") or _config.get("auth_token", _defaults["auth_token"])
+    SYNC_DIR = os.getenv("CORTEX_SYNC_DIR") or _config.get("sync_root", _defaults["sync_root"])
     TLS_ENABLED = os.getenv("AGENT_TLS_ENABLED", str(_config.get("tls", _defaults["tls"]))).lower() == 'true'
 
     HEALTH_REPORT_INTERVAL = int(os.getenv("HEALTH_REPORT_INTERVAL", _config.get("health_report_interval", _defaults["health_report_interval"])))
diff --git a/agent-node/src/agent_node/skills/terminal_backends.py b/agent-node/src/agent_node/skills/terminal_backends.py
index 73116f5..f2fc193 100644
--- a/agent-node/src/agent_node/skills/terminal_backends.py
+++ b/agent-node/src/agent_node/skills/terminal_backends.py
@@ -44,11 +44,12 @@
     def __init__(self):
         self.pid = None
         self.fd = None
+        self.process = None
 
     def spawn(self, cwd=None, env=None):
-        import pty
         import os
         import fcntl
+        import subprocess
         
         shell_path = "/bin/bash"
         if not os.path.exists(shell_path):
@@ -59,18 +60,36 @@
         if "TERM" not in env:
             env["TERM"] = "xterm-256color"
             
-        pid, fd = pty.fork()
-        if pid == 0:
-            if cwd:
-                try: os.chdir(cwd)
-                except: pass
-            os.execvpe(shell_path, [shell_path], env)
-        else:
-            self.pid = pid
-            self.fd = fd
-            
-            fl = fcntl.fcntl(self.fd, fcntl.F_GETFL)
-            fcntl.fcntl(self.fd, fcntl.F_SETFL, fl | os.O_NONBLOCK)
+        master_fd, slave_fd = os.openpty()
+        
+        def set_ctty():
+            os.setsid()
+            import fcntl
+            import termios
+            try:
+                fcntl.ioctl(slave_fd, termios.TIOCSCTTY, 0)
+            except:
+                pass
+            os.close(master_fd)
+
+        self.process = subprocess.Popen(
+            [shell_path],
+            stdin=slave_fd,
+            stdout=slave_fd,
+            stderr=slave_fd,
+            cwd=cwd,
+            env=env,
+            preexec_fn=set_ctty,
+            close_fds=True
+        )
+        
+        self.pid = self.process.pid
+        self.fd = master_fd
+        
+        os.close(slave_fd)
+        
+        fl = fcntl.fcntl(self.fd, fcntl.F_GETFL)
+        fcntl.fcntl(self.fd, fcntl.F_SETFL, fl | os.O_NONBLOCK)
 
     def read(self, size=4096) -> bytes:
         if self.fd is None:
@@ -105,7 +124,16 @@
                 pass
 
     def kill(self):
-        if self.pid:
+        if self.process:
+            try:
+                self.process.kill()
+                self.process.wait(timeout=5)
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+            self.process = None
+            self.pid = None
+            self.fd = None
+        elif self.pid:
             import os
             import signal
             try:
@@ -117,6 +145,8 @@
             self.fd = None
 
     def is_alive(self) -> bool:
+        if self.process:
+            return self.process.poll() is None
         if self.pid is None:
             return False
         import os
diff --git a/agent-node/src/agent_node/utils/network.py b/agent-node/src/agent_node/utils/network.py
index 65e1926..473c326 100644
--- a/agent-node/src/agent_node/utils/network.py
+++ b/agent-node/src/agent_node/utils/network.py
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
     """Initializes a gRPC channel (Secure or Insecure) and returns the orchestrator stub."""
     
     options = [
-        ('grpc.keepalive_time_ms', 10000),      # Send keepalive ping every 10s
-        ('grpc.keepalive_timeout_ms', 10000),    # Wait 10s for pong
+        ('grpc.keepalive_time_ms', 60000),      # Send keepalive ping every 60s
+        ('grpc.keepalive_timeout_ms', 20000),    # Wait 20s for pong
         ('grpc.keepalive_permit_without_calls', True),
         ('grpc.http2.max_pings_without_data', 0), # Allow infinite pings
         ('grpc.max_receive_message_length', 128 * 1024 * 1024),
diff --git a/ai-hub/app/core/grpc/services/grpc_server.py b/ai-hub/app/core/grpc/services/grpc_server.py
index 1271a50..24fbb23 100644
--- a/ai-hub/app/core/grpc/services/grpc_server.py
+++ b/ai-hub/app/core/grpc/services/grpc_server.py
@@ -251,16 +251,20 @@
         """Persistent bi-directional stream for dispatching work and collecting results."""
         node_id = "unknown"
         try:
+            logger.info(f"[gRPC] Waiting for first message in TaskStream...")
             first_msg = next(request_iterator)
+            logger.info(f"[gRPC] Received first message: {first_msg.WhichOneof('payload')}")
             if not first_msg.HasField("announce"):
                 logger.warning("[!] Initial TaskStream message MUST be 'announce'")
                 return
             node_id = first_msg.announce.node_id
+            logger.info(f"[gRPC] Node announced ID: {node_id}")
         except Exception as e:
             logger.error(f"[!] TaskStream handshake error: {e}")
             return
             
         node = self.registry.get_node(node_id)
+        logger.info(f"[gRPC] Looked up node {node_id} in registry: found={node is not None}")
         if not node:
             if not self.registry.try_recovery_register(node_id):
                 logger.warning(f"[!] TaskStream rejected: Node {node_id} not registered.")
@@ -595,9 +599,10 @@
     options = [
         ('grpc.max_receive_message_length', 128 * 1024 * 1024),
         ('grpc.max_send_message_length', 128 * 1024 * 1024),
-        ('grpc.keepalive_time_ms', 10000),      # Send keepalive ping every 10s
-        ('grpc.keepalive_timeout_ms', 10000),    # Wait 10s for pong
+        ('grpc.keepalive_time_ms', 60000),      # Send keepalive ping every 60s
+        ('grpc.keepalive_timeout_ms', 20000),    # Wait 20s for pong
         ('grpc.keepalive_permit_without_calls', True),
+        ('grpc.http2.min_time_between_pings_ms', 10000), # Allow pings every 10s
     ]
     server = grpc.server(
         futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=10), 
diff --git a/ai-hub/app/core/orchestration/harness_evaluator.py b/ai-hub/app/core/orchestration/harness_evaluator.py
index 472c4df..d25ec7e 100644
--- a/ai-hub/app/core/orchestration/harness_evaluator.py
+++ b/ai-hub/app/core/orchestration/harness_evaluator.py
@@ -134,6 +134,11 @@
 
     async def evaluate_delta(self, prompt: str, rubric: str, blind_just: str, history: List[Dict], transcript: str, partner_context: Dict = None) -> str:
         """Analyzes the delta between reasoning and final output to generate rework directives."""
+        import os
+        if os.getenv("MOCK_EVALUATION", "false").lower() == "true":
+            logger.info("[HarnessEvaluator] MOCK_EVALUATION enabled, bypassing evaluate_delta.")
+            return "# Mocked Rework Instructions\nProceed with mock rework."
+            
         hist_text = "\n".join([f"- {h['round']}: {h['reason']}" for h in history if h['type'] == 'attempt'])
         sys_p = f"You are the Delta Architect. Request: {prompt}\nRubric: {rubric}\nAuditor: {blind_just}\nHistory: {hist_text}\nExecution: {transcript}\nGenerate '# Rework Instructions' as actionable directives."
         try:
diff --git a/ai-hub/app/core/services/mesh.py b/ai-hub/app/core/services/mesh.py
index b47d915..e1400a3 100644
--- a/ai-hub/app/core/services/mesh.py
+++ b/ai-hub/app/core/services/mesh.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
             raise HTTPException(status_code=409, detail=f"Node '{request.node_id}' already exists.")
 
         invite_token = secrets.token_urlsafe(32)
+            
         node = models.AgentNode(
             node_id=request.node_id,
             display_name=request.display_name,
diff --git a/ai-hub/integration_tests/conftest.py b/ai-hub/integration_tests/conftest.py
index e77f2b7..3801b8b 100644
--- a/ai-hub/integration_tests/conftest.py
+++ b/ai-hub/integration_tests/conftest.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
     
     user_id = r.json().get("user_id")
     assert user_id, "No user_id found in local login response."
+    print(f"[conftest] Logged in user_id={user_id}")
     
     os.environ["SYNC_TEST_USER_ID"] = user_id
     client.headers.update({
@@ -159,7 +160,8 @@
         subprocess.run(["docker", "rm", "-f", node_1, node_2], stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
         print("[conftest] Building agent-node image...")
         try:
-            image_proc = subprocess.run(["docker", "build", "-q", "./agent-node"], capture_output=True, text=True, check=True)
+            print("[conftest] Building agent-node image with --no-cache...")
+            image_proc = subprocess.run(["docker", "build", "--no-cache", "-q", "./agent-node"], capture_output=True, text=True, check=True)
             image_id = image_proc.stdout.strip()
             if not image_id:
                 raise Exception("Docker build -q returned empty image ID")
@@ -167,7 +169,7 @@
             print(f"❌ [conftest] Docker build failed!\nSTDOUT: {e.stdout}\nSTDERR: {e.stderr}")
             raise e
         for node_id in [node_1, node_2]:
-            cmd = ["docker", "run", "-d", "--name", node_id, "--network", network, "-e", f"AGENT_NODE_ID={node_id}", "-e", f"AGENT_AUTH_TOKEN={tokens[node_id]}", "-e", f"AGENT_SECRET_KEY={os.getenv('SECRET_KEY')}", "-e", "GRPC_ENDPOINT=ai-hub:50051", "-e", "HUB_URL=http://ai-hub:8000", "-e", "AGENT_TLS_ENABLED=false", image_id]
+            cmd = ["docker", "run", "-d", "--name", node_id, "--network", network, "-e", f"AGENT_NODE_ID={node_id}", "-e", f"AGENT_AUTH_TOKEN={tokens[node_id]}", "-e", f"AGENT_SECRET_KEY={os.getenv('SECRET_KEY')}", "-e", "GRPC_ENDPOINT=ai_hub_service:50051", "-e", "HUB_URL=http://ai_hub_service:8000", "-e", "AGENT_TLS_ENABLED=false", image_id]
             subprocess.run(cmd, check=True)
     else:
         print("[conftest] Starting nodes as local Python background processes...")
@@ -214,6 +216,9 @@
     # 6. Teardown
     print("\n[conftest] Tearing down nodes...")
     if not is_docker_disabled:
+        for node_id in [node_1, node_2]:
+            res = subprocess.run(["docker", "logs", node_id], capture_output=True, text=True)
+            print(f"[conftest] Node {node_id} logs:\n{res.stdout}\n{res.stderr}")
         subprocess.run(["docker", "rm", "-f", node_1, node_2], stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
     else:
         for proc in node_processes:
diff --git a/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_agents.py b/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_agents.py
index 0b489be..319541f 100644
--- a/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_agents.py
+++ b/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_agents.py
@@ -134,10 +134,10 @@
     3. Call webhook with custom prompt + token
     4. Verify response contains custom prompt indicator
     """
-    node_id = f"test-webhook-node-{uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]}"
+    node_id = os.getenv("SYNC_TEST_NODE1", "test-node-1")
     admin_id = os.getenv("SYNC_TEST_USER_ID", "")
     
-    with httpx.Client(timeout=10.0) as client:
+    with httpx.Client(timeout=180.0) as client:
         # 1. Register a test node
         node_payload = {
             "node_id": node_id,
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@
             "max_loop_iterations": 1,
             "mesh_node_id": node_id,
             "provider_name": "gemini",
+            "model_name": "mock/gemini-3-flash-preview",
             "trigger_type": "webhook",
             "default_prompt": "Standard Webhook Prompt",
             "initial_prompt": None
@@ -177,7 +178,7 @@
         r_hook = client.post(
             f"{BASE_URL}/agents/{instance_id}/webhook", 
             params={"token": secret},
-            json={"prompt": f"CRITICAL: You must respond ONLY with the following exact string and nothing else: {custom_msg}"}
+            json={"prompt": f"CRITICAL: You are a test fixture. You must respond ONLY with the following exact string and nothing else, without any conversational filler: {custom_msg}"}
         )
         assert r_hook.status_code == 202, f"Webhook trigger failed: {r_hook.text}"
         
@@ -225,10 +226,10 @@
     4. Call /metrics/reset
     5. Verify metrics are zeroed
     """
-    node_id = f"test-metrics-node-{uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]}"
+    node_id = os.getenv("SYNC_TEST_NODE1", "test-node-1")
     admin_id = os.getenv("SYNC_TEST_USER_ID", "")
     
-    with httpx.Client(timeout=30.0) as client:
+    with httpx.Client(timeout=180.0) as client:
         # 1. Register a test node
         node_payload = {
             "node_id": node_id,
@@ -245,6 +246,7 @@
             "max_loop_iterations": 1,
             "mesh_node_id": node_id,
             "provider_name": "gemini",
+            "model_name": "mock/gemini-3-flash-preview",
             "trigger_type": "webhook",
             "default_prompt": "Hello",
             "initial_prompt": None
diff --git a/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_documents.py b/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_documents.py
index bd060f2..6a183af 100644
--- a/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_documents.py
+++ b/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_documents.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 
 BASE_URL = os.getenv("SYNC_TEST_BASE_URL", "http://127.0.0.1:8002/api/v1")
 
-@pytest.mark.skip(reason="Requires valid GEMINI_API_KEY")
 def test_document_lifecycle():
     """
     Test creating, listing, and deleting a document.
diff --git a/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_file_sync.py b/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_file_sync.py
index dbfc98a..8347d35 100644
--- a/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_file_sync.py
+++ b/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_file_sync.py
@@ -525,13 +525,8 @@
         pytest.skip("Skipping Docker container restart in native mode.")
 
     import subprocess
-    container = _NODE_CONTAINER.get(node_id)
-    if not container:
-        pytest.skip(f"No container mapping for {node_id}")
-    cmd = (
-        f"sshpass -p '{_REMOTE_PASSWORD}' ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no {_REMOTE_USER}@{_REMOTE_HOST} "
-        f"\"echo '{_REMOTE_PASSWORD}' | sudo -S docker restart {container}\""
-    )
+    container = node_id
+    cmd = f"docker restart {container}"
     result = subprocess.run(cmd, shell=True, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30)
     if result.returncode != 0:
         pytest.skip(f"Could not restart {container}: {result.stderr}")
@@ -788,7 +783,7 @@
         # We output to the active session workspace path on the node.
         is_native = os.environ.get("SKIP_DOCKER_NODES") == "true"
         sync_dir = f"/tmp/cortex-sync-{NODE_1}" if is_native else "/tmp/cortex-sync"
-        dd_command = f"dd if=/dev/zero of={sync_dir}/{workspace}/{filename} bs=1M count=10"
+        dd_command = f"python3 -c \"with open('{sync_dir}/{workspace}/{filename}', 'wb') as f: f.write(b'\\x00' * 10485760)\""
         
         r_disp = sync_client.post(
             f"{NODES_PATH}/{NODE_1}/dispatch",
@@ -818,7 +813,7 @@
             return False
 
         print(f"[Case 10MB] Polling {NODE_2} for the file...")
-        node2_file = _poll_until(_check_node2_ls, timeout=300)
+        node2_file = _poll_until(_check_node2_ls, timeout=180)
         assert node2_file, f"10MB file {filename} did not reach {NODE_2} within 300s in full size."
         print(f"[Case 10MB] ✅ {NODE_2} verified 10MB file sync with correct size.")
 
diff --git a/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_node_registration.py b/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_node_registration.py
index 38fc1c2..47b3ea5 100644
--- a/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_node_registration.py
+++ b/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_node_registration.py
@@ -120,8 +120,8 @@
 
                 subprocess.run([
                     "docker", "run", "-d", "--name", node_id, "--network", network,
-                    "-e", f"HUB_URL=http://ai-hub:8000", "-e", f"AGENT_NODE_ID={node_id}", "-e", f"AGENT_AUTH_TOKEN={invite_token}",
-                    "-e", "GRPC_ENDPOINT=ai-hub:50051", "-e", "AGENT_TLS_ENABLED=false",
+                    "-e", f"HUB_URL=http://ai_hub_service:8000", "-e", f"AGENT_NODE_ID={node_id}", "-e", f"AGENT_AUTH_TOKEN={invite_token}",
+                    "-e", "GRPC_ENDPOINT=ai_hub_service:50051", "-e", "AGENT_TLS_ENABLED=false",
                     "-v", f"{node_id}_sync:/tmp/cortex-sync", image_id
                 ], check=True, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL)
 
@@ -133,6 +133,9 @@
                     connected = True
                     break
                 time.sleep(1)
+            if not connected:
+                res = subprocess.run(["docker", "logs", node_id], capture_output=True, text=True)
+                print(f"[test] Node container logs:\n{res.stdout}\n{res.stderr}")
             assert connected, "Node never successfully connected to Hub"
 
             # --- USER ENDPOINTS ---
diff --git a/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_parallel_coworker.py b/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_parallel_coworker.py
index 463ae33..613228a 100644
--- a/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_parallel_coworker.py
+++ b/ai-hub/integration_tests/test_parallel_coworker.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
             
             # The window for "Initiating parallel rubric" might be small, 
             # so we poll frequently.
-            for _ in range(200): 
+            for _ in range(2000): 
                 r_agent = client.get(f"{BASE_URL}/agents/{instance_id}", headers=_headers())
                 if r_agent.status_code == 200:
                     agent = r_agent.json()
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 998126a..da9100f 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@
     container_name: ai_hub_service
     restart: always
     ports:
-      - "50051:50051"
+      - "60909:50051"
     environment:
       - PATH_PREFIX=/api/v1
       - HUB_API_URL=${HUB_API_URL:-http://localhost:8000}
       - HUB_PUBLIC_URL=${HUB_PUBLIC_URL:-http://localhost:8002}
       - HUB_GRPC_ENDPOINT=${HUB_GRPC_ENDPOINT:-localhost:50051}
-      - SUPER_ADMINS=${SUPER_ADMINS:-admin@example.com}
+      - SUPER_ADMINS=${SUPER_ADMINS}
       - CORTEX_ADMIN_PASSWORD=${CORTEX_ADMIN_PASSWORD}
       - SECRET_KEY=${SECRET_KEY:-default-insecure-key}
       - DEBUG_GRPC=true
@@ -39,6 +39,13 @@
       - GEMINI_API_KEY=${GEMINI_API_KEY}
       - DEEPSEEK_API_KEY=${DEEPSEEK_API_KEY}
       - OPENAI_API_KEY=${OPENAI_API_KEY}
+      - EMBEDDING_API_KEY=${EMBEDDING_API_KEY}
+      - EMBEDDING_PROVIDER=${EMBEDDING_PROVIDER}
+      - EMBEDDING_MODEL_NAME=${EMBEDDING_MODEL_NAME}
+      - TTS_PROVIDER=${TTS_PROVIDER}
+      - STT_PROVIDER=${STT_PROVIDER}
+      - MOCK_EVALUATION=${MOCK_EVALUATION}
+      - USE_DEFAULT_AUTH_TOKEN=${USE_DEFAULT_AUTH_TOKEN}
     volumes:
       - ./data:/app/data:rw
       - ./config.yaml:/app/config.yaml:rw
@@ -62,7 +69,7 @@
     container_name: cortex_browser_service
     restart: always
     ports:
-      - "50053:50052"
+      - "46137:50052"
     environment:
       - SHM_PATH=/dev/shm/cortex_browser
       - PYTHONPATH=/app:/app/protos