diff --git a/decnet/bus/topics.py b/decnet/bus/topics.py
index 4016d867..7194de9c 100644
--- a/decnet/bus/topics.py
+++ b/decnet/bus/topics.py
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ Token structure (NATS-style, dot-separated):
     topology.{topology_id}.status
     decky.{decky_id}.state
     decky.{decky_id}.traffic
+    orchestrator.activity.{decky_id}
+    orchestrator.file.{decky_id}
     attacker.observed
     attacker.scored
     attacker.session.started
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ IDENTITY = "identity"
 CAMPAIGN = "campaign"
 SYSTEM = "system"
 CREDENTIAL = "credential"
+ORCHESTRATOR = "orchestrator"
 
 
 # ─── Leaf event-type constants (the last segment of each topic) ──────────────
@@ -160,6 +163,16 @@ CAMPAIGN_UNMERGED = "unmerged"
 CREDENTIAL_CAPTURED = "captured"
 CREDENTIAL_REUSE_DETECTED = "reuse.detected"
 
+# Orchestrator event types (second token under ``orchestrator``).  The
+# orchestrator worker publishes one of these per synthetic action it
+# drives against a decky — cheap inter-decky traffic and filesystem
+# mutations whose role is to keep the honeypot from looking suspiciously
+# static.  Always nested with the destination decky uuid as the third
+# token, so consumers can subscribe to a single decky's life-injection
+# stream via ``orchestrator.*.<decky_uuid>``.
+ORCHESTRATOR_ACTIVITY = "activity"
+ORCHESTRATOR_FILE = "file"
+
 # System event types.
 SYSTEM_LOG = "log"
 SYSTEM_BUS_HEALTH = "bus.health"
@@ -280,6 +293,18 @@ def identity(event_type: str) -> str:
     return f"{IDENTITY}.{event_type}"
 
 
+def orchestrator(event_type: str, decky_id: str) -> str:
+    """Build ``orchestrator.<event_type>.<decky_id>``.
+
+    *event_type* should be one of :data:`ORCHESTRATOR_ACTIVITY` or
+    :data:`ORCHESTRATOR_FILE`. The destination decky is always the
+    third token so per-decky subscribers can use
+    ``orchestrator.*.<decky_uuid>``.
+    """
+    _reject_tokens(event_type, decky_id)
+    return f"{ORCHESTRATOR}.{event_type}.{decky_id}"
+
+
 def system_health(worker: str) -> str:
     """Build ``system.<worker>.health``.
 
diff --git a/decnet/cli/__init__.py b/decnet/cli/__init__.py
index 1f7829dd..45a703e5 100644
--- a/decnet/cli/__init__.py
+++ b/decnet/cli/__init__.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ from . import (
     inventory,
     lifecycle,
     listener,
+    orchestrator,
     profiler,
     sniffer,
     swarm,
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ for _mod in (
     api, swarmctl, agent, updater, listener, forwarder,
     swarm,
     deploy, lifecycle, workers, inventory,
-    web, profiler, sniffer, db,
+    web, profiler, orchestrator, sniffer, db,
     topology, bus, geoip, init, webhook,
 ):
     _mod.register(app)
diff --git a/decnet/cli/orchestrator.py b/decnet/cli/orchestrator.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bcdc2e4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/cli/orchestrator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import typer
+
+from . import utils as _utils
+from .utils import console, log
+
+
+def register(app: typer.Typer) -> None:
+    @app.command(name="orchestrate")
+    def orchestrate_cmd(
+        interval: int = typer.Option(
+            60, "--interval", "-i",
+            help="Seconds between synthetic activity ticks",
+        ),
+        daemon: bool = typer.Option(
+            False, "--daemon", "-d",
+            help="Detach to background as a daemon process",
+        ),
+    ) -> None:
+        """Inject synthetic life (inter-decky traffic + file ops) into the fleet."""
+        import asyncio
+        from decnet.orchestrator import orchestrator_worker
+        from decnet.web.dependencies import repo
+
+        if daemon:
+            log.info("orchestrator daemonizing interval=%d", interval)
+            _utils._daemonize()
+
+        log.info("orchestrator starting interval=%d", interval)
+        console.print(
+            f"[bold cyan]Orchestrator starting[/] (interval: {interval}s)"
+        )
+
+        async def _run() -> None:
+            await repo.initialize()
+            await orchestrator_worker(repo, interval=interval)
+
+        try:
+            asyncio.run(_run())
+        except KeyboardInterrupt:
+            console.print("\n[yellow]Orchestrator stopped.[/]")
diff --git a/decnet/orchestrator/__init__.py b/decnet/orchestrator/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d24a171f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/orchestrator/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+"""DECNET orchestrator — synthetic life-injection worker.
+
+Drives realistic-looking activity between deckies (inter-decky traffic and
+in-decky filesystem mutations) so the honeypot stops looking suspiciously
+static.  Sole writer of the ``OrchestratorEvent`` table.
+"""
+from decnet.orchestrator.worker import orchestrator_worker
+
+__all__ = ["orchestrator_worker"]
diff --git a/decnet/orchestrator/drivers/__init__.py b/decnet/orchestrator/drivers/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cdfb8d0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/orchestrator/drivers/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+"""Activity drivers for the orchestrator (MVP: SSH only)."""
+from decnet.orchestrator.drivers.base import ActivityResult, Driver
+from decnet.orchestrator.drivers.ssh import SSHDriver
+
+__all__ = ["ActivityResult", "Driver", "SSHDriver"]
diff --git a/decnet/orchestrator/drivers/base.py b/decnet/orchestrator/drivers/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cbad4db3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/orchestrator/drivers/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+"""Driver protocol for orchestrator actions.
+
+Future protocols (HTTP, SMB, MySQL, …) implement this interface alongside
+the SSH driver. Kept deliberately minimal — the orchestrator only needs
+"run this action and tell me how it went".
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from typing import Any, Protocol
+
+from decnet.orchestrator.scheduler import Action
+
+
+@dataclass
+class ActivityResult:
+    """Outcome of one driver invocation.
+
+    ``payload`` is the per-action JSON envelope the worker writes to the
+    ``OrchestratorEvent.payload`` column and to the bus event body.
+    """
+    success: bool
+    payload: dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
+
+
+class Driver(Protocol):
+    async def run(self, action: Action) -> ActivityResult: ...
diff --git a/decnet/orchestrator/drivers/ssh.py b/decnet/orchestrator/drivers/ssh.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..64ddced8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/orchestrator/drivers/ssh.py
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+"""MVP SSH-flavoured driver.
+
+Two action shapes:
+
+* :class:`~decnet.orchestrator.scheduler.TrafficAction` — exec a tiny
+  Python one-liner *inside the source decky's ssh container* that opens
+  TCP/22 against the destination decky's IP and reads the SSH banner.
+  This generates real on-the-wire SSH-protocol traffic between the two
+  containers (sshd announces the banner on connect), without us having
+  to ship credentials anywhere.
+* :class:`~decnet.orchestrator.scheduler.FileAction` — drop / refresh a
+  file inside the destination decky's ssh container via ``docker exec``.
+
+Both shell out via :func:`asyncio.create_subprocess_exec` with argv
+lists — never a shell string — so an attacker-controllable decky name
+or IP can't escape into a shell.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import asyncio
+import shlex
+from typing import Any
+
+from decnet.logging import get_logger
+from decnet.orchestrator.drivers.base import ActivityResult
+from decnet.orchestrator.scheduler import Action, FileAction, TrafficAction
+
+log = get_logger("orchestrator.ssh")
+
+_DOCKER = "docker"
+# Per-call wall-clock cap.  The orchestrator runs serially (one action
+# per tick); a wedged docker exec must not stall the whole worker.
+_TIMEOUT = 8.0
+
+# Container suffix convention: services/*.py emit container_name as
+# ``<decky_name>-<service>``.  The MVP only drives the ssh service.
+_SSH_CONTAINER_SUFFIX = "-ssh"
+
+
+def _container_for(decky_name: str) -> str:
+    return f"{decky_name}{_SSH_CONTAINER_SUFFIX}"
+
+
+async def _run(argv: list[str]) -> tuple[int, str, str]:
+    """Spawn *argv* and capture (rc, stdout, stderr).
+
+    Returns ``(rc=124, "", "timeout")`` on wall-clock expiry.  Never
+    raises — orchestrator success/failure is a payload attribute, not
+    an exception.
+    """
+    try:
+        proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
+            *argv,
+            stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+            stderr=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+        )
+    except FileNotFoundError as exc:
+        return 127, "", f"argv[0] not found: {exc}"
+    try:
+        stdout, stderr = await asyncio.wait_for(proc.communicate(), timeout=_TIMEOUT)
+    except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+        try:
+            proc.kill()
+        except ProcessLookupError:
+            pass
+        return 124, "", "timeout"
+    return (
+        proc.returncode if proc.returncode is not None else -1,
+        stdout.decode("utf-8", "replace"),
+        stderr.decode("utf-8", "replace"),
+    )
+
+
+# Python one-liner that probes the destination's SSH banner.  Kept inline
+# so the driver has zero filesystem dependencies on the host side; the
+# *container* needs python3 (ssh service template ships it).
+_PROBE_PY = (
+    "import socket,sys;"
+    "s=socket.socket();s.settimeout(3);"
+    "s.connect((sys.argv[1], 22));"
+    "b=s.recv(128);s.close();"
+    "sys.stdout.write(b.decode('latin1','replace'))"
+)
+
+
+class SSHDriver:
+    """Concrete :class:`Driver` for the MVP."""
+
+    async def run(self, action: Action) -> ActivityResult:
+        if isinstance(action, TrafficAction):
+            return await self._run_traffic(action)
+        if isinstance(action, FileAction):
+            return await self._run_file(action)
+        raise TypeError(f"unsupported action type: {type(action)!r}")
+
+    async def _run_traffic(self, action: TrafficAction) -> ActivityResult:
+        container = _container_for(action.src_name)
+        argv = [
+            _DOCKER, "exec", container,
+            "python3", "-c", _PROBE_PY, action.dst_ip,
+        ]
+        rc, stdout, stderr = await _run(argv)
+        success = rc == 0 and stdout.startswith("SSH-")
+        payload: dict[str, Any] = {
+            "src_decky": action.src_name,
+            "dst_decky": action.dst_name,
+            "dst_ip": action.dst_ip,
+            "dst_port": 22,
+            "rc": rc,
+            "banner": stdout.strip()[:128] if success else None,
+            "stderr": stderr.strip()[:256] if not success else None,
+        }
+        if not success:
+            log.debug(
+                "orchestrator.ssh.traffic failed src=%s dst=%s rc=%d stderr=%r",
+                action.src_name, action.dst_name, rc, stderr[:120],
+            )
+        return ActivityResult(success=success, payload=payload)
+
+    async def _run_file(self, action: FileAction) -> ActivityResult:
+        container = _container_for(action.dst_name)
+        # `tee` is in coreutils on every base image; using it (instead of
+        # `>` redirection) keeps the argv free of shell metacharacters
+        # the dst_name/path could otherwise weaponise.  Path validation
+        # still belongs upstream — the scheduler's templates are fixed.
+        # We do invoke `sh -c` so the parent dir gets mkdir'd in one
+        # call; the sh argv stays trivially auditable.
+        sh_cmd = (
+            f"mkdir -p {shlex.quote(_dirname(action.path))} && "
+            f"printf %s {shlex.quote(action.content)} > {shlex.quote(action.path)} && "
+            f"touch {shlex.quote(action.path)}"
+        )
+        argv = [_DOCKER, "exec", container, "sh", "-c", sh_cmd]
+        rc, stdout, stderr = await _run(argv)
+        success = rc == 0
+        payload: dict[str, Any] = {
+            "dst_decky": action.dst_name,
+            "path": action.path,
+            "bytes": len(action.content.encode("utf-8")),
+            "rc": rc,
+            "stderr": stderr.strip()[:256] if not success else None,
+        }
+        return ActivityResult(success=success, payload=payload)
+
+
+def _dirname(path: str) -> str:
+    """Pure-string dirname.  We can't trust ``os.path.dirname`` on the
+    host to share the destination container's separator semantics, but
+    deckies are POSIX so a plain ``rfind('/')`` suffices."""
+    idx = path.rfind("/")
+    if idx <= 0:
+        return "/"
+    return path[:idx]
diff --git a/decnet/orchestrator/events.py b/decnet/orchestrator/events.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d434850f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/orchestrator/events.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+"""DB-row + bus-topic helpers for the orchestrator."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+from decnet.bus import topics as _topics
+from decnet.orchestrator.drivers.base import ActivityResult
+from decnet.orchestrator.scheduler import Action, FileAction, TrafficAction
+
+
+def to_row(action: Action, result: ActivityResult) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Build the kwargs dict for ``OrchestratorEvent(**...)``."""
+    base: dict[str, Any] = {
+        "ts": datetime.now(timezone.utc),
+        "protocol": "ssh",
+        "success": result.success,
+        "payload": result.payload,  # repo serialises dict→json
+    }
+    if isinstance(action, TrafficAction):
+        base.update(
+            kind="traffic",
+            action=f"exec:{action.description}",
+            src_decky_uuid=action.src_uuid,
+            dst_decky_uuid=action.dst_uuid,
+        )
+    elif isinstance(action, FileAction):
+        base.update(
+            kind="file",
+            action=action.description,
+            src_decky_uuid=None,
+            dst_decky_uuid=action.dst_uuid,
+        )
+    else:
+        raise TypeError(f"unsupported action type: {type(action)!r}")
+    return base
+
+
+def topic_for(action: Action) -> str:
+    """Map an action to its bus topic."""
+    if isinstance(action, TrafficAction):
+        return _topics.orchestrator(_topics.ORCHESTRATOR_ACTIVITY, action.dst_uuid)
+    if isinstance(action, FileAction):
+        return _topics.orchestrator(_topics.ORCHESTRATOR_FILE, action.dst_uuid)
+    raise TypeError(f"unsupported action type: {type(action)!r}")
+
+
+def event_type_for(action: Action) -> str:
+    if isinstance(action, TrafficAction):
+        return _topics.ORCHESTRATOR_ACTIVITY
+    if isinstance(action, FileAction):
+        return _topics.ORCHESTRATOR_FILE
+    raise TypeError(f"unsupported action type: {type(action)!r}")
diff --git a/decnet/orchestrator/scheduler.py b/decnet/orchestrator/scheduler.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1d1e68e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/orchestrator/scheduler.py
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+"""Action picker for the orchestrator.
+
+MVP policy: flat random — pick one (src, dst) pair where both deckies
+expose SSH, then choose one of {ssh-traffic, file-touch}. No diurnal
+shaping, no role-aware pairing — those land in v1.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import secrets
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any, Optional, Sequence
+
+# A small set of plausible filenames the orchestrator drops or refreshes.
+# Scope on purpose: the file driver is "prove the docker-exec write path
+# works", not "generate believable user activity". Realism is v2.
+# Paths target the filesystem *inside* a decoy container, not the host.
+# Bandit B108 is a host-side concern; suppressed at the data definition.
+_FILE_TEMPLATES: tuple[tuple[str, str], ...] = (  # nosec B108
+    ("/tmp/.cache-{ts}.tmp", "session={ts}\n"),  # nosec B108
+    ("/var/log/cron-{ts}.log", "{ts} CRON[{n}]: ({user}) CMD (run-parts /etc/cron.daily)\n"),
+    ("/home/{user}/notes-{ts}.txt", "todo: rotate keys; check on backup task\n"),
+)
+
+_USERS = ("admin", "ubuntu", "service")
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class TrafficAction:
+    src_uuid: str
+    src_name: str
+    dst_uuid: str
+    dst_name: str
+    dst_ip: str
+    protocol: str = "ssh"
+    description: str = "tcp_connect:22"
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class FileAction:
+    dst_uuid: str
+    dst_name: str
+    path: str
+    content: str
+    description: str = "file:create"
+
+
+Action = TrafficAction | FileAction
+
+
+def _has_ssh(decky: dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
+    services = decky.get("services") or []
+    if isinstance(services, str):
+        return False  # not deserialised — treat as "we don't know"
+    return "ssh" in services
+
+
+def pick(
+    deckies: Sequence[dict[str, Any]],
+    *,
+    rand: Optional[secrets.SystemRandom] = None,
+) -> Optional[Action]:
+    """Pick one action against the given decky set.
+
+    Returns ``None`` when no action is possible (fewer than two SSH-capable
+    deckies for traffic, or no deckies at all for file ops). The worker
+    treats ``None`` as "skip this tick".
+    """
+    rng = rand or secrets.SystemRandom()
+    ssh_deckies = [d for d in deckies if _has_ssh(d) and d.get("ip")]
+    if not ssh_deckies:
+        return None
+
+    kind = "traffic" if (len(ssh_deckies) >= 2 and rng.random() < 0.5) else "file"
+
+    if kind == "traffic":
+        src, dst = rng.sample(ssh_deckies, 2)
+        return TrafficAction(
+            src_uuid=src["uuid"],
+            src_name=src["name"],
+            dst_uuid=dst["uuid"],
+            dst_name=dst["name"],
+            dst_ip=dst["ip"],
+        )
+
+    dst = rng.choice(ssh_deckies)
+    template, content_template = rng.choice(_FILE_TEMPLATES)
+    ts = int(datetime.now(timezone.utc).timestamp())
+    user = rng.choice(_USERS)
+    path = template.format(ts=ts, user=user)
+    content = content_template.format(ts=ts, user=user, n=rng.randint(1000, 99999))
+    return FileAction(
+        dst_uuid=dst["uuid"],
+        dst_name=dst["name"],
+        path=path,
+        content=content,
+    )
diff --git a/decnet/orchestrator/worker.py b/decnet/orchestrator/worker.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..44223529
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/orchestrator/worker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+"""Orchestrator main loop.
+
+One tick = one (src, dst, action) pick + one driver invocation + one DB
+write + one fire-and-forget bus publish.  Intentionally serial — MVP
+honesty: a wedged docker exec stalls only this worker, never another.
+
+Modeled after :mod:`decnet.profiler.worker` for consistency: same control
+listener, same heartbeat helper, same shutdown semantics.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import asyncio
+import contextlib
+
+from decnet.bus.factory import get_bus
+from decnet.bus.publish import (
+    publish_safely,
+    run_control_listener,
+    run_health_heartbeat,
+)
+from decnet.logging import get_logger
+from decnet.orchestrator import events, scheduler
+from decnet.orchestrator.drivers import SSHDriver
+from decnet.web.db.repository import BaseRepository
+
+logger = get_logger("orchestrator")
+
+
+async def orchestrator_worker(
+    repo: BaseRepository,
+    *,
+    interval: int = 60,
+) -> None:
+    """Periodically inject synthetic activity into the running fleet.
+
+    Runs as a long-lived asyncio task.  Honours the bus control topic
+    (``system.orchestrator.control``) for graceful shutdown.
+    """
+    logger.info("orchestrator worker started interval=%ds", interval)
+
+    bus = None
+    try:
+        bus = get_bus(client_name="orchestrator")
+        await bus.connect()
+    except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001
+        logger.warning(
+            "orchestrator: bus unavailable, continuing without publish: %s", exc
+        )
+        bus = None
+
+    driver = SSHDriver()
+    shutdown = asyncio.Event()
+    heartbeat_task = asyncio.create_task(run_health_heartbeat(bus, "orchestrator"))
+    control_task = asyncio.create_task(
+        run_control_listener(bus, "orchestrator", shutdown),
+    )
+    try:
+        while not shutdown.is_set():
+            try:
+                await asyncio.wait_for(shutdown.wait(), timeout=interval)
+            except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+                pass  # normal tick
+            if shutdown.is_set():
+                break
+            try:
+                await _one_tick(repo, driver, bus)
+            except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001
+                logger.error("orchestrator tick failed: %s", exc)
+    finally:
+        for t in (heartbeat_task, control_task):
+            t.cancel()
+            with contextlib.suppress(Exception, asyncio.CancelledError):
+                await t
+        if bus is not None:
+            with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
+                await bus.close()
+
+
+async def _one_tick(repo: BaseRepository, driver, bus) -> None:
+    deckies = await repo.list_running_topology_deckies()
+    action = scheduler.pick(deckies)
+    if action is None:
+        logger.debug(
+            "orchestrator: no actionable deckies (running+ssh count=%d)",
+            len(deckies),
+        )
+        return
+
+    result = await driver.run(action)
+    row = events.to_row(action, result)
+    await repo.record_orchestrator_event(row)
+
+    if bus is not None:
+        topic = events.topic_for(action)
+        # Bus payload mirrors the row but uses iso8601 for ts so SSE
+        # consumers don't have to JSON-handle datetime themselves.
+        bus_payload = {
+            "kind": row["kind"],
+            "protocol": row["protocol"],
+            "action": row["action"],
+            "src_decky_uuid": row.get("src_decky_uuid"),
+            "dst_decky_uuid": row["dst_decky_uuid"],
+            "success": row["success"],
+            "payload": result.payload,
+            "ts": row["ts"].isoformat(),
+        }
+        await publish_safely(
+            bus, topic, bus_payload, event_type=events.event_type_for(action)
+        )
+
+    logger.info(
+        "orchestrator tick kind=%s success=%s dst=%s",
+        row["kind"], row["success"], row["dst_decky_uuid"],
+    )
diff --git a/decnet/web/db/models/__init__.py b/decnet/web/db/models/__init__.py
index 73e43fdf..dcdcb1fe 100644
--- a/decnet/web/db/models/__init__.py
+++ b/decnet/web/db/models/__init__.py
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ from .health import (
     ComponentHealth,
     HealthResponse,
 )
+from .orchestrator import (
+    OrchestratorEvent,
+)
 from .logs import (
     Bounty,
     BountyResponse,
@@ -181,6 +184,8 @@ __all__ = [
     # health
     "ComponentHealth",
     "HealthResponse",
+    # orchestrator
+    "OrchestratorEvent",
     # logs
     "Bounty",
     "BountyResponse",
diff --git a/decnet/web/db/models/orchestrator.py b/decnet/web/db/models/orchestrator.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cd02087e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/web/db/models/orchestrator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+"""Orchestrator-emitted activity events.
+
+Purpose-built sibling to ``logs.Log`` so attacker-originated events stay
+cleanly separable from synthetic life-injection events at query time.
+The orchestrator worker is the sole writer.
+"""
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Optional
+from uuid import uuid4
+
+from sqlalchemy import Column, Index, Text
+from sqlmodel import Field, SQLModel
+
+
+class OrchestratorEvent(SQLModel, table=True):
+    """One orchestrator-driven action against a decky.
+
+    ``kind`` discriminates the two MVP flavours:
+
+    * ``"traffic"`` — a protocol-driven interaction (SSH command exec for
+      MVP). ``src_decky_uuid`` is the *logical* originator and may differ
+      from the actual TCP source for the duration of the MVP, where the
+      orchestrator process drives the connection from the host. ``v1``
+      will execute the connection from inside the source container.
+    * ``"file"``  — a filesystem touch via ``docker exec`` against the
+      destination decky. ``src_decky_uuid`` is null.
+
+    ``payload`` is the per-action JSON envelope: command run, exit code,
+    stdout/stderr digest, file path, byte counts, etc. Schema is
+    deliberately loose — the worker can extend it without a migration.
+    """
+    __tablename__ = "orchestrator_events"
+    __table_args__ = (
+        Index("ix_orchestrator_events_dst_ts", "dst_decky_uuid", "ts"),
+    )
+    uuid: str = Field(default_factory=lambda: str(uuid4()), primary_key=True)
+    ts: datetime = Field(
+        default_factory=lambda: datetime.now(timezone.utc), index=True
+    )
+    kind: str = Field(index=True, max_length=16)              # traffic|file
+    protocol: str = Field(index=True, max_length=16)          # ssh for MVP
+    action: str = Field(max_length=64)                         # exec:uptime|file:create|...
+    src_decky_uuid: Optional[str] = Field(
+        default=None, foreign_key="topology_deckies.uuid", index=True
+    )
+    dst_decky_uuid: str = Field(
+        foreign_key="topology_deckies.uuid", index=True
+    )
+    success: bool = Field(default=False, index=True)
+    payload: str = Field(
+        sa_column=Column("payload", Text, nullable=False, default="{}")
+    )
diff --git a/decnet/web/db/repository.py b/decnet/web/db/repository.py
index a316f7f9..1959a590 100644
--- a/decnet/web/db/repository.py
+++ b/decnet/web/db/repository.py
@@ -857,3 +857,24 @@ class BaseRepository(ABC):
         """Auto-disable a subscription after repeated failures. Sets
         ``enabled=False`` and stamps ``auto_disabled_at``."""
         raise NotImplementedError
+
+    # ---------------------------------------------------------- orchestrator
+
+    async def list_running_topology_deckies(self) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+        """Return every TopologyDecky row whose ``state == 'running'``.
+
+        The orchestrator picks pairs from this set to drive synthetic
+        inter-decky activity. Cross-topology by design: a multi-topology
+        host still has a single orchestrator instance.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    async def record_orchestrator_event(self, data: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+        """Insert one orchestrator-emitted event row, returning its uuid."""
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    async def list_orchestrator_events(
+        self, *, limit: int = 100, since_ts: Optional[Any] = None
+    ) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+        """Return recent orchestrator events newest-first."""
+        raise NotImplementedError
diff --git a/decnet/web/db/sqlmodel_repo.py b/decnet/web/db/sqlmodel_repo.py
index 817b51f1..aa9d82f1 100644
--- a/decnet/web/db/sqlmodel_repo.py
+++ b/decnet/web/db/sqlmodel_repo.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ from decnet.web.db.models import (
     TopologyEdge,
     TopologyStatusEvent,
     TopologyMutation,
+    OrchestratorEvent,
     WebhookSubscription,
 )
 
@@ -2787,3 +2788,42 @@ class SQLModelRepository(BaseRepository):
                 )
             )
             await session.commit()
+
+    # ---------------------------------------------------------- orchestrator
+
+    async def list_running_topology_deckies(self) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+        async with self._session() as session:
+            result = await session.execute(
+                select(TopologyDecky).where(TopologyDecky.state == "running")
+            )
+            return [
+                self._deserialize_json_fields(
+                    r.model_dump(mode="json"), ("services", "decky_config")
+                )
+                for r in result.scalars().all()
+            ]
+
+    async def record_orchestrator_event(self, data: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+        payload = data.get("payload")
+        if isinstance(payload, (dict, list)):
+            data = {**data, "payload": json.dumps(payload)}
+        async with self._session() as session:
+            row = OrchestratorEvent(**data)
+            session.add(row)
+            await session.commit()
+            await session.refresh(row)
+            return row.uuid
+
+    async def list_orchestrator_events(
+        self,
+        *,
+        limit: int = 100,
+        since_ts: Optional[datetime] = None,
+    ) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+        async with self._session() as session:
+            stmt = select(OrchestratorEvent)
+            if since_ts is not None:
+                stmt = stmt.where(OrchestratorEvent.ts >= since_ts)
+            stmt = stmt.order_by(desc(OrchestratorEvent.ts)).limit(limit)
+            result = await session.execute(stmt)
+            return [r.model_dump(mode="json") for r in result.scalars().all()]
diff --git a/decnet/web/router/workers/api_start_all_workers.py b/decnet/web/router/workers/api_start_all_workers.py
index eeab98a9..1f28d733 100644
--- a/decnet/web/router/workers/api_start_all_workers.py
+++ b/decnet/web/router/workers/api_start_all_workers.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ _PREFERRED_ORDER: tuple[str, ...] = (
     "reuse-correlator",
     "enrich",
     "webhook",
+    "orchestrator",
 )
 
 
diff --git a/decnet/web/worker_registry.py b/decnet/web/worker_registry.py
index f2158ef1..02ae7f21 100644
--- a/decnet/web/worker_registry.py
+++ b/decnet/web/worker_registry.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ KNOWN_WORKERS: tuple[str, ...] = (
     "reuse-correlator",  # credential-reuse pass — bus-woken on credential.captured
     "enrich",     # threat-intel enrichment — bus-woken on attacker.observed/scored
     "webhook",    # external SIEM/SOAR egress — bus consumer → HMAC HTTP POSTs
+    "orchestrator",  # synthetic life-injection — inter-decky traffic + file ops
     "agent",
     "forwarder",
     "updater",
diff --git a/deploy/decnet-orchestrator.service.j2 b/deploy/decnet-orchestrator.service.j2
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..968d97a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/decnet-orchestrator.service.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=DECNET Orchestrator (synthetic life-injection — inter-decky traffic + file ops)
+Documentation=https://git.resacachile.cl/anti/DECNET/wiki/Workers#orchestrator
+After=network-online.target decnet-bus.service
+Wants=network-online.target decnet-bus.service
+
+[Service]
+Type=simple
+User={{ user }}
+Group={{ group }}
+WorkingDirectory={{ install_dir }}
+EnvironmentFile=-{{ install_dir }}/.env.local
+Environment=DECNET_SYSTEM_LOGS=/var/log/decnet/decnet.orchestrator.log
+ExecStart={{ venv_dir }}/bin/decnet orchestrate
+StandardOutput=append:/var/log/decnet/decnet.orchestrator.log
+StandardError=append:/var/log/decnet/decnet.orchestrator.log
+
+# The orchestrator drives `docker exec` against decky containers, so it
+# needs membership in the docker group.  It does NOT bind to the network,
+# launch new containers, or write outside its own logs and install dir.
+SupplementaryGroups=docker
+
+CapabilityBoundingSet=
+AmbientCapabilities=
+
+# Security Hardening
+NoNewPrivileges=yes
+ProtectSystem=full
+ProtectHome=read-only
+PrivateTmp=yes
+ProtectKernelTunables=yes
+ProtectKernelModules=yes
+ProtectControlGroups=yes
+RestrictSUIDSGID=yes
+LockPersonality=yes
+ReadWritePaths={{ install_dir }} /var/log/decnet
+
+Restart=on-failure
+RestartSec=5
+TimeoutStopSec=15
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
diff --git a/tests/orchestrator/__init__.py b/tests/orchestrator/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/tests/orchestrator/test_scheduler.py b/tests/orchestrator/test_scheduler.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1ef34c3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/orchestrator/test_scheduler.py
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+"""Picker policy tests for the orchestrator scheduler."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import secrets
+
+import pytest
+
+from decnet.orchestrator import scheduler
+
+
+def _decky(uuid: str, name: str, ip: str | None, services: list[str] | str):
+    return {"uuid": uuid, "name": name, "ip": ip, "services": services}
+
+
+def test_pick_returns_none_when_no_ssh_deckies():
+    deckies = [
+        _decky("u1", "decky-01", "10.0.0.1", ["http"]),
+        _decky("u2", "decky-02", "10.0.0.2", ["smb"]),
+    ]
+    assert scheduler.pick(deckies) is None
+
+
+def test_pick_returns_none_when_ssh_decky_has_no_ip():
+    deckies = [_decky("u1", "decky-01", None, ["ssh"])]
+    assert scheduler.pick(deckies) is None
+
+
+def test_pick_file_action_with_single_ssh_decky():
+    deckies = [_decky("u1", "decky-01", "10.0.0.1", ["ssh"])]
+    rng = secrets.SystemRandom()
+    rng.seed = lambda *_: None  # SystemRandom doesn't seed; ignore
+    action = scheduler.pick(deckies, rand=rng)
+    assert isinstance(action, scheduler.FileAction)
+    assert action.dst_uuid == "u1"
+    assert action.path.startswith("/")
+    assert action.content
+
+
+def test_pick_traffic_or_file_with_two_ssh_deckies():
+    deckies = [
+        _decky("u1", "decky-01", "10.0.0.1", ["ssh"]),
+        _decky("u2", "decky-02", "10.0.0.2", ["ssh"]),
+    ]
+    seen_kinds: set[str] = set()
+    # 50/50 split — 40 trials makes both kinds essentially certain
+    for _ in range(40):
+        action = scheduler.pick(deckies)
+        assert action is not None
+        seen_kinds.add("traffic" if isinstance(action, scheduler.TrafficAction) else "file")
+        if isinstance(action, scheduler.TrafficAction):
+            assert action.src_uuid != action.dst_uuid
+            assert action.dst_ip in {"10.0.0.1", "10.0.0.2"}
+            assert action.protocol == "ssh"
+    assert seen_kinds == {"traffic", "file"}
+
+
+def test_pick_skips_non_deserialised_services():
+    """If services is still a JSON string (defensive), the decky is excluded."""
+    deckies = [_decky("u1", "decky-01", "10.0.0.1", '["ssh"]')]
+    assert scheduler.pick(deckies) is None
diff --git a/tests/orchestrator/test_ssh_driver.py b/tests/orchestrator/test_ssh_driver.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b76d162b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/orchestrator/test_ssh_driver.py
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+"""Driver tests with the docker subprocess mocked.
+
+We don't need a real Docker daemon to validate the driver's contract:
+it boils down to "build an argv, call _run, classify the result". A
+dependency-injected ``_run`` keeps the tests hermetic.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+
+from decnet.orchestrator.drivers import ssh as ssh_driver
+from decnet.orchestrator.drivers.base import ActivityResult
+from decnet.orchestrator.scheduler import FileAction, TrafficAction
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_traffic_success_classifies_on_ssh_banner(monkeypatch):
+    captured_argv: list[list[str]] = []
+
+    async def fake_run(argv):
+        captured_argv.append(argv)
+        return 0, "SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_9.6\r\n", ""
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ssh_driver, "_run", fake_run)
+    drv = ssh_driver.SSHDriver()
+    action = TrafficAction(
+        src_uuid="u1", src_name="decky-01",
+        dst_uuid="u2", dst_name="decky-02",
+        dst_ip="10.0.0.2",
+    )
+    result = await drv.run(action)
+    assert isinstance(result, ActivityResult)
+    assert result.success is True
+    assert result.payload["banner"].startswith("SSH-2.0-OpenSSH")
+    assert captured_argv[0][:3] == ["docker", "exec", "decky-01-ssh"]
+    assert captured_argv[0][-1] == "10.0.0.2"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_traffic_failure_when_banner_missing(monkeypatch):
+    async def fake_run(argv):
+        return 1, "", "Connection refused"
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ssh_driver, "_run", fake_run)
+    drv = ssh_driver.SSHDriver()
+    action = TrafficAction(
+        src_uuid="u1", src_name="decky-01",
+        dst_uuid="u2", dst_name="decky-02",
+        dst_ip="10.0.0.2",
+    )
+    result = await drv.run(action)
+    assert result.success is False
+    assert result.payload["rc"] == 1
+    assert "Connection refused" in result.payload["stderr"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_file_action_invokes_docker_exec_on_dst(monkeypatch):
+    captured_argv: list[list[str]] = []
+
+    async def fake_run(argv):
+        captured_argv.append(argv)
+        return 0, "", ""
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ssh_driver, "_run", fake_run)
+    drv = ssh_driver.SSHDriver()
+    action = FileAction(
+        dst_uuid="u2", dst_name="decky-02",
+        path="/tmp/.cache-1700000000.tmp",
+        content="session=1700000000\n",
+    )
+    result = await drv.run(action)
+    assert result.success is True
+    assert result.payload["bytes"] == len("session=1700000000\n".encode())
+    argv = captured_argv[0]
+    assert argv[:3] == ["docker", "exec", "decky-02-ssh"]
+    assert argv[3] == "sh"
+    assert argv[4] == "-c"
+    # The shell payload must single-quote both the content and the path —
+    # any unquoted ``;`` or ``$`` here would mean a shell-injection bug.
+    sh_cmd = argv[5]
+    # Path appears (shlex.quote leaves safe paths unquoted) and content
+    # is single-quoted — that's the shell-injection-safe contract.
+    assert "/tmp/.cache-1700000000.tmp" in sh_cmd
+    assert "'session=1700000000\n'" in sh_cmd
+    assert "mkdir -p /tmp" in sh_cmd
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_run_handles_missing_docker_binary(monkeypatch):
+    async def fake_create(*args, **kwargs):
+        raise FileNotFoundError("docker")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "asyncio.create_subprocess_exec", fake_create,
+    )
+    rc, out, err = await ssh_driver._run(["docker", "exec", "x", "true"])
+    assert rc == 127
+    assert "not found" in err
diff --git a/tests/orchestrator/test_worker_integration.py b/tests/orchestrator/test_worker_integration.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2d661d27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/orchestrator/test_worker_integration.py
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+"""End-to-end-ish: run one orchestrator tick against a real SQLite repo +
+FakeBus, with the docker subprocess stubbed.  Verifies that:
+
+* :func:`scheduler.pick` reads the deckies the repo returns,
+* the driver result is persisted to ``orchestrator_events``,
+* a bus event is published to the right topic.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+
+import pytest
+import pytest_asyncio
+
+from decnet.bus.fake import FakeBus
+from decnet.orchestrator import worker as orch_worker
+from decnet.orchestrator.drivers import ssh as ssh_driver
+from decnet.web.db.models import TopologyDecky, Topology
+from decnet.web.db.sqlite.repository import SQLiteRepository
+
+
+@pytest_asyncio.fixture
+async def repo(tmp_path):
+    r = SQLiteRepository(db_path=str(tmp_path / "decnet.db"))
+    await r.initialize()
+    yield r
+    await r.engine.dispose()
+
+
+@pytest_asyncio.fixture
+async def fake_bus():
+    bus = FakeBus()
+    await bus.connect()
+    try:
+        yield bus
+    finally:
+        await bus.close()
+
+
+async def _seed_two_running_ssh_deckies(repo: SQLiteRepository) -> tuple[str, str]:
+    async with repo._session() as session:
+        topo = Topology(name="t1", config_snapshot="{}", status="active")
+        session.add(topo)
+        await session.commit()
+        await session.refresh(topo)
+        d1 = TopologyDecky(
+            topology_id=topo.id, name="decky-01",
+            services=json.dumps(["ssh"]), ip="10.0.0.1", state="running",
+        )
+        d2 = TopologyDecky(
+            topology_id=topo.id, name="decky-02",
+            services=json.dumps(["ssh"]), ip="10.0.0.2", state="running",
+        )
+        session.add(d1)
+        session.add(d2)
+        await session.commit()
+        await session.refresh(d1)
+        await session.refresh(d2)
+        return d1.uuid, d2.uuid
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_one_tick_records_event_and_publishes(repo, fake_bus, monkeypatch):
+    await _seed_two_running_ssh_deckies(repo)
+
+    # Pretend every docker exec succeeds with an SSH banner; that lets
+    # both action kinds (traffic + file) land as success rows so the
+    # assertions below don't have to care which one the scheduler picked.
+    async def fake_run(argv):
+        if argv[3] == "python3":
+            return 0, "SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_9.6\r\n", ""
+        return 0, "", ""
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ssh_driver, "_run", fake_run)
+
+    received: list = []
+
+    async def collect():
+        async with fake_bus.subscribe("orchestrator.>") as sub:
+            async for ev in sub:
+                received.append(ev)
+                if len(received) >= 1:
+                    return
+
+    import asyncio
+    collector = asyncio.create_task(collect())
+    # Yield once so the subscription is registered before we publish.
+    await asyncio.sleep(0)
+
+    driver = ssh_driver.SSHDriver()
+    await orch_worker._one_tick(repo, driver, fake_bus)
+
+    await asyncio.wait_for(collector, timeout=2.0)
+
+    rows = await repo.list_orchestrator_events(limit=10)
+    assert len(rows) == 1
+    row = rows[0]
+    assert row["success"] is True
+    assert row["protocol"] == "ssh"
+    assert row["kind"] in {"traffic", "file"}
+
+    assert len(received) == 1
+    ev = received[0]
+    assert ev.topic.startswith("orchestrator.")
+    assert ev.payload["success"] is True
+    assert ev.payload["kind"] == row["kind"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_tick_is_noop_when_no_running_deckies(repo, fake_bus, monkeypatch):
+    called = False
+
+    async def fake_run(argv):
+        nonlocal called
+        called = True
+        return 0, "SSH-2.0-foo", ""
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ssh_driver, "_run", fake_run)
+    driver = ssh_driver.SSHDriver()
+    await orch_worker._one_tick(repo, driver, fake_bus)
+
+    assert called is False
+    assert await repo.list_orchestrator_events(limit=10) == []