diff --git a/examples/010/images/main/Dockerfile b/examples/010/images/main/Dockerfile
index 86af5f89a2e..bf9968fb9b0 100644
--- a/examples/010/images/main/Dockerfile
+++ b/examples/010/images/main/Dockerfile
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-FROM ghcr.io/build-trust/ockam-python:latest
+FROM ghcr.io/build-trust/ockam-python:cd3c44c50
 COPY . .
 ENTRYPOINT ["python", "main.py"]
diff --git a/examples/010/images/main/index.html b/examples/010/images/main/index.html
index 7d9f886a6f4..8b43e9d3f7f 100644
--- a/examples/010/images/main/index.html
+++ b/examples/010/images/main/index.html
@@ -54,26 +54,69 @@
                 padding: 6px 12px;
                 font-size: 14px;
             }
-            @keyframes pulse {
-                0% {
-                    box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 123, 255, 0.7);
-                }
-                70% {
-                    box-shadow: 0 0 0 10px rgba(0, 123, 255, 0);
-                }
-                100% {
-                    box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 123, 255, 0);
-                }
+            #loader {
+                display: none;
+                width: 15px;
+                height: 15px;
+                margin: 0;
+                border: 8px solid #f3f3f3;
+                border-radius: 50%;
+                border-top: 8px solid #3498db;
+                -webkit-animation: spin 2s linear infinite;
+                animation: spin 2s linear infinite;
+            }
+            @-webkit-keyframes spin {
+                0% { -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg); }
+                100% { -webkit-transform: rotate(360deg); }
+            }
+            @keyframes spin {
+                0% { transform: rotate(0deg); }
+                100% { transform: rotate(360deg); }
             }
-            .pulse {
-                animation: pulse 1.5s infinite;
-                border-color: #007bff;
-                outline: none;
+            .foo {
+                display: flex;
+                flex-direction: row;
+                justify-content: flex-start;
+                align-items: center;
+            }
+            #popup {
+                display: none;
+                background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.5);
+                position: fixed;
+                z-index: 999;
+                width: 100%;
+                height: 100vh;
+                flex-direction: column;
+                justify-content: center;
+                align-items: center;
+                margin: 0 auto;
+                .popup {
+                    background: white;
+                    color: #fff;
+                    padding: 10px;
+                    border-radius: 5px;
+                    display: flex;
+                    flex-direction: column;
+                    align-items: center;
+                    width: 200px;
+                    #text {
+                        color: black;
+                    }
+                }
             }
         </style>
     </head>
     <body>
-        <button id="run-btn">Run</button>
+        <div id="popup">
+            <div class="popup">
+              <p id="text"></p>
+              <button id="ok-btn">OK</button>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+        <div class="foo">
+          <button id="run-btn">Run</button>
+          <div id="loader"></div>
+        </div>
         <div id="container"></div>
         <script src="https://d3js.org/d3.v7.min.js"></script>
         <script>
@@ -83,18 +126,23 @@
 
             const container = d3.select("#container");
 
-            function render(data) {
-                const grouped = {};
-                for (const worker of data.workers) {
-                    if (!grouped[worker.runner_name]) {
-                        grouped[worker.runner_name] = [];
-                    }
-                    grouped[worker.runner_name].push(worker.worker_name);
-                }
+            function sleep(ms) {
+                return new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
+            }
 
+            window.prev_data = {};
+            function render(data) {
                 const container = d3.select("#container");
 
-                const nodeColumns = container.selectAll(".node-column").data(Object.entries(grouped), (d) => d[0]);
+                // In case some runners didn't respond due to being buse, use the previous value for that runner
+                const new_data = {...window.prev_data, ...data};
+                window.prev_data = {...data};
+
+                const data_list = Object.entries(new_data).sort((a, b) => {
+	                  return a[0].localeCompare(b[0]);
+                });
+
+                const nodeColumns = container.selectAll(".node-column").data(data_list, (d) => d[0]);
                 nodeColumns.exit().remove();
 
                 const nodeColumnsEnter = nodeColumns.enter().append("div").attr("class", "node-column");
@@ -154,17 +202,34 @@
                 });
             }
 
+            document.getElementById("ok-btn").addEventListener("click", async function () {
+                const popup = document.getElementById("popup");
+                popup.style.display = "none"
+            });
+
             document.getElementById("run-btn").addEventListener("click", async function () {
                 const button = this;
-                button.classList.add("pulse");
+                const loader = document.getElementById("loader");
+                const popup = document.getElementById("popup");
+                const text = document.getElementById("text");
+                button.disabled = true;
+                loader.style.display = "block";
+
                 try {
+                    const start = Date.now();
                     const response = await fetch("/analyze", { method: "POST" });
                     const response_json = await response.json();
+                    const end = Date.now();
                     console.log("Analysis: ", response_json);
+                    text.innerHTML = `Success in: ${Math.floor((end - start) / 1000)} s`;
                 } catch (error) {
                     console.error("Error fetching /analyze:", error);
+                    text.innerHTML = "Error"
                 } finally {
-                    button.classList.remove("pulse");
+                    loader.style.display = "none";
+                    await sleep(1500);
+                    popup.style.display = "flex"
+                    button.disabled = false;
                 }
             });
 
@@ -174,7 +239,8 @@
                         const response = await fetch("/runners/workers");
                         if (response.ok) {
                             const response_json = await response.json();
-                            console.log("Workers: ", response_json);
+                            const now = new Date();
+                            console.log(now.toLocaleTimeString(), "Workers:", response_json);
                             render(response_json);
                         }
                     } catch (e) {
diff --git a/examples/010/images/main/main.py b/examples/010/images/main/main.py
index 90dd2ae493a..5cebeb57be1 100644
--- a/examples/010/images/main/main.py
+++ b/examples/010/images/main/main.py
@@ -148,14 +148,23 @@ def split_list_into_n_parts(lst, n):
 
 
 async def list_workers(node):
+    import ockam
+
     runners = await Zone.nodes(node, filter="runner")
-    futures = [runner.list_workers() for runner in runners]
-    workers_per_runner = await asyncio.gather(*futures)
-    workers = []
-    for runner, workers_on_this_runner in zip(runners, workers_per_runner):
-        for w in workers_on_this_runner:
-            workers.append({"worker_name": w["name"], "runner_name": runner.name})
-    return workers
+
+    async def list_per_runner(runner):
+        workers_on_this_runner = await runner.list_workers()
+        return {runner.name: [w["name"] for w in workers_on_this_runner]}
+
+    futures = [list_per_runner(runner) for runner in runners]
+    workers_per_runner = await ockam.gather(*futures, timeout=3, return_exceptions=True)
+
+    # ignore errors
+    workers_per_runner = [r for r in workers_per_runner if not isinstance(r, Exception)]
+    # flatten
+    workers_per_runner = {k: v for d in workers_per_runner for k, v in d.items()}
+
+    return workers_per_runner
 
 
 class Api:
@@ -193,7 +202,7 @@ async def post_analyze():
         @self.api.get("/runners/workers")
         async def get_workers():
             workers = await list_workers(node)
-            return JSONResponse(content={"workers": workers})
+            return JSONResponse(content=workers)
 
         @self.api.get("/runners")
         async def get_runners():
diff --git a/examples/010/images/runner/Dockerfile b/examples/010/images/runner/Dockerfile
index 86af5f89a2e..bf9968fb9b0 100644
--- a/examples/010/images/runner/Dockerfile
+++ b/examples/010/images/runner/Dockerfile
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-FROM ghcr.io/build-trust/ockam-python:latest
+FROM ghcr.io/build-trust/ockam-python:cd3c44c50
 COPY . .
 ENTRYPOINT ["python", "main.py"]
diff --git a/examples/011/images/main/Dockerfile b/examples/011/images/main/Dockerfile
index bd27dd5ef95..b439a1f180a 100644
--- a/examples/011/images/main/Dockerfile
+++ b/examples/011/images/main/Dockerfile
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-FROM ghcr.io/build-trust/ockam-python-dev:latest AS dev
+FROM ghcr.io/build-trust/ockam-python-dev:cd3c44c50 AS dev
 
 ENV PATH="/app/venv/bin:$PATH"
 COPY requirements.txt requirements.txt
 RUN python -m venv /app/venv && pip install -r requirements.txt
 
-FROM ghcr.io/build-trust/ockam-python:latest
+FROM ghcr.io/build-trust/ockam-python:cd3c44c50
 
 WORKDIR /app
 
diff --git a/examples/011/images/main/index.html b/examples/011/images/main/index.html
index 7d9f886a6f4..8b43e9d3f7f 100644
--- a/examples/011/images/main/index.html
+++ b/examples/011/images/main/index.html
@@ -54,26 +54,69 @@
                 padding: 6px 12px;
                 font-size: 14px;
             }
-            @keyframes pulse {
-                0% {
-                    box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 123, 255, 0.7);
-                }
-                70% {
-                    box-shadow: 0 0 0 10px rgba(0, 123, 255, 0);
-                }
-                100% {
-                    box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(0, 123, 255, 0);
-                }
+            #loader {
+                display: none;
+                width: 15px;
+                height: 15px;
+                margin: 0;
+                border: 8px solid #f3f3f3;
+                border-radius: 50%;
+                border-top: 8px solid #3498db;
+                -webkit-animation: spin 2s linear infinite;
+                animation: spin 2s linear infinite;
+            }
+            @-webkit-keyframes spin {
+                0% { -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg); }
+                100% { -webkit-transform: rotate(360deg); }
+            }
+            @keyframes spin {
+                0% { transform: rotate(0deg); }
+                100% { transform: rotate(360deg); }
             }
-            .pulse {
-                animation: pulse 1.5s infinite;
-                border-color: #007bff;
-                outline: none;
+            .foo {
+                display: flex;
+                flex-direction: row;
+                justify-content: flex-start;
+                align-items: center;
+            }
+            #popup {
+                display: none;
+                background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.5);
+                position: fixed;
+                z-index: 999;
+                width: 100%;
+                height: 100vh;
+                flex-direction: column;
+                justify-content: center;
+                align-items: center;
+                margin: 0 auto;
+                .popup {
+                    background: white;
+                    color: #fff;
+                    padding: 10px;
+                    border-radius: 5px;
+                    display: flex;
+                    flex-direction: column;
+                    align-items: center;
+                    width: 200px;
+                    #text {
+                        color: black;
+                    }
+                }
             }
         </style>
     </head>
     <body>
-        <button id="run-btn">Run</button>
+        <div id="popup">
+            <div class="popup">
+              <p id="text"></p>
+              <button id="ok-btn">OK</button>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+        <div class="foo">
+          <button id="run-btn">Run</button>
+          <div id="loader"></div>
+        </div>
         <div id="container"></div>
         <script src="https://d3js.org/d3.v7.min.js"></script>
         <script>
@@ -83,18 +126,23 @@
 
             const container = d3.select("#container");
 
-            function render(data) {
-                const grouped = {};
-                for (const worker of data.workers) {
-                    if (!grouped[worker.runner_name]) {
-                        grouped[worker.runner_name] = [];
-                    }
-                    grouped[worker.runner_name].push(worker.worker_name);
-                }
+            function sleep(ms) {
+                return new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
+            }
 
+            window.prev_data = {};
+            function render(data) {
                 const container = d3.select("#container");
 
-                const nodeColumns = container.selectAll(".node-column").data(Object.entries(grouped), (d) => d[0]);
+                // In case some runners didn't respond due to being buse, use the previous value for that runner
+                const new_data = {...window.prev_data, ...data};
+                window.prev_data = {...data};
+
+                const data_list = Object.entries(new_data).sort((a, b) => {
+	                  return a[0].localeCompare(b[0]);
+                });
+
+                const nodeColumns = container.selectAll(".node-column").data(data_list, (d) => d[0]);
                 nodeColumns.exit().remove();
 
                 const nodeColumnsEnter = nodeColumns.enter().append("div").attr("class", "node-column");
@@ -154,17 +202,34 @@
                 });
             }
 
+            document.getElementById("ok-btn").addEventListener("click", async function () {
+                const popup = document.getElementById("popup");
+                popup.style.display = "none"
+            });
+
             document.getElementById("run-btn").addEventListener("click", async function () {
                 const button = this;
-                button.classList.add("pulse");
+                const loader = document.getElementById("loader");
+                const popup = document.getElementById("popup");
+                const text = document.getElementById("text");
+                button.disabled = true;
+                loader.style.display = "block";
+
                 try {
+                    const start = Date.now();
                     const response = await fetch("/analyze", { method: "POST" });
                     const response_json = await response.json();
+                    const end = Date.now();
                     console.log("Analysis: ", response_json);
+                    text.innerHTML = `Success in: ${Math.floor((end - start) / 1000)} s`;
                 } catch (error) {
                     console.error("Error fetching /analyze:", error);
+                    text.innerHTML = "Error"
                 } finally {
-                    button.classList.remove("pulse");
+                    loader.style.display = "none";
+                    await sleep(1500);
+                    popup.style.display = "flex"
+                    button.disabled = false;
                 }
             });
 
@@ -174,7 +239,8 @@
                         const response = await fetch("/runners/workers");
                         if (response.ok) {
                             const response_json = await response.json();
-                            console.log("Workers: ", response_json);
+                            const now = new Date();
+                            console.log(now.toLocaleTimeString(), "Workers:", response_json);
                             render(response_json);
                         }
                     } catch (e) {
diff --git a/examples/011/images/main/main.py b/examples/011/images/main/main.py
index d58fa42a4dd..a6f561ad559 100644
--- a/examples/011/images/main/main.py
+++ b/examples/011/images/main/main.py
@@ -229,13 +229,20 @@ async def list_workers(node):
     import ockam
 
     runners = await Zone.nodes(node, filter="runner")
-    futures = [runner.list_workers() for runner in runners]
-    workers_per_runner = await ockam.gather(*futures)
-    workers = []
-    for runner, workers_on_this_runner in zip(runners, workers_per_runner):
-        for w in workers_on_this_runner:
-            workers.append({"worker_name": w["name"], "runner_name": runner.name})
-    return workers
+
+    async def list_per_runner(runner):
+        workers_on_this_runner = await runner.list_workers()
+        return {runner.name: [w["name"] for w in workers_on_this_runner]}
+
+    futures = [list_per_runner(runner) for runner in runners]
+    workers_per_runner = await ockam.gather(*futures, timeout=5, return_exceptions=True)
+
+    # ignore errors
+    workers_per_runner = [r for r in workers_per_runner if not isinstance(r, Exception)]
+    # flatten
+    workers_per_runner = {k: v for d in workers_per_runner for k, v in d.items()}
+
+    return workers_per_runner
 
 
 class Api:
@@ -255,7 +262,7 @@ async def post_analyze():
         @self.api.get("/runners/workers")
         async def get_workers():
             workers = await list_workers(node)
-            return JSONResponse(content={"workers": workers})
+            return JSONResponse(content=workers)
 
         @self.api.get("/runners")
         async def get_runners():
diff --git a/examples/011/images/runner/Dockerfile b/examples/011/images/runner/Dockerfile
index bd27dd5ef95..b439a1f180a 100644
--- a/examples/011/images/runner/Dockerfile
+++ b/examples/011/images/runner/Dockerfile
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-FROM ghcr.io/build-trust/ockam-python-dev:latest AS dev
+FROM ghcr.io/build-trust/ockam-python-dev:cd3c44c50 AS dev
 
 ENV PATH="/app/venv/bin:$PATH"
 COPY requirements.txt requirements.txt
 RUN python -m venv /app/venv && pip install -r requirements.txt
 
-FROM ghcr.io/build-trust/ockam-python:latest
+FROM ghcr.io/build-trust/ockam-python:cd3c44c50
 
 WORKDIR /app
 
diff --git a/implementations/python/Cargo.lock b/implementations/python/Cargo.lock
index 6c695bd5eeb..ba80b833b48 100644
--- a/implementations/python/Cargo.lock
+++ b/implementations/python/Cargo.lock
@@ -3158,7 +3158,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "ockam"
-version = "0.152.0"
+version = "0.153.0"
 dependencies = [
  "hex",
  "ockam_abac",
@@ -3200,7 +3200,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "ockam_api"
-version = "0.95.0"
+version = "0.96.0"
 dependencies = [
  "base64-url",
  "bytes",
diff --git a/implementations/python/python/ockam/gather.py b/implementations/python/python/ockam/gather.py
index adfe0d8a8ae..88a248ac6a3 100644
--- a/implementations/python/python/ockam/gather.py
+++ b/implementations/python/python/ockam/gather.py
@@ -1,16 +1,21 @@
 import asyncio
 
 
-def gather(*coros_or_futures, batch_size=None):
-    if not batch_size:
-        return asyncio.gather(*coros_or_futures)
+def gather(*coros_or_futures, batch_size=None, timeout=None, return_exceptions=False):
+    sem = None
+    if batch_size:
+        sem = asyncio.Semaphore(batch_size)
 
-    sem = asyncio.Semaphore(batch_size)
+    async def wrap_task(f):
+        if timeout:
+            f = asyncio.wait_for(f, timeout)
 
-    async def batch_task(f):
-        async with sem:
+        if sem:
+            async with sem:
+                return await f
+        else:
             return await f
 
-    futures = [batch_task(f) for f in coros_or_futures]
+    futures = [wrap_task(f) for f in coros_or_futures]
 
-    return asyncio.gather(*futures)
+    return asyncio.gather(*futures, return_exceptions=return_exceptions)
diff --git a/implementations/python/python/ockam/models/model.py b/implementations/python/python/ockam/models/model.py
index 00dff56ee44..eef0d5cbf2d 100644
--- a/implementations/python/python/ockam/models/model.py
+++ b/implementations/python/python/ockam/models/model.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 from typing import List, Optional
 
 import litellm
+from litellm import Router
+
 import os
 import boto3
 import threading
@@ -40,6 +42,14 @@
         "gemma3:27b": "ollama_chat/gemma3:27b",
         "nomic-embed-text": "ollama/nomic-embed-text",
     },
+    "ollama_chat": {
+        "deepseek-r1": "ollama_chat/deepseek-r1",
+        "llama3.2": "ollama_chat/llama3.2",
+        "llama3.3": "ollama_chat/llama3.3",
+        "gemma3": "ollama_chat/gemma3",
+        "gemma3:27b": "ollama_chat/gemma3:27b",
+        "nomic-embed-text": "ollama/nomic-embed-text",
+    },
     "bedrock": {
         "claude-3-5-haiku-v1": "bedrock/anthropic.claude-3-5-haiku-20241022-v1:0",
         "claude-3-5-sonnet-v1": "bedrock/anthropic.claude-3-5-sonnet-20240620-v1:0",
@@ -80,6 +90,16 @@
 init_lock = threading.Lock()
 
 
+# slightly modify the parameters to accommodate services
+litellm.modify_params = True
+
+model_list = []
+for model_name in ALL_PROVIDER_ALLOWED_FULL_NAMES:
+    model_list.append({"model_name": model_name, "litellm_params": {"model": model_name}})
+
+router = Router(model_list=model_list, default_max_parallel_requests=400)
+
+
 def construct_bedrock_arn(model_identifier: str) -> Optional[str]:
     global region, account_id, init_lock
     with init_lock:
@@ -192,9 +212,6 @@ async def complete_chat(self, messages: List[dict] | List[ConversationMessage],
                 if "tool_calls" in message:
                     del message["tool_calls"]
 
-        # slightly modify the parameters to accommodate services
-        litellm.modify_params = True
-
         # parameters provided in kwargs will override the default parameters
         kwargs = {**self.kwargs, **kwargs}
 
@@ -202,7 +219,9 @@ async def complete_chat(self, messages: List[dict] | List[ConversationMessage],
         if "tools" in kwargs and len(kwargs["tools"]) == 0:
             del kwargs["tools"]
 
-        return await litellm.acompletion(self.name, messages=messages, stream=stream, **kwargs)
+        global router
+
+        return await router.acompletion(self.name, messages=messages, stream=stream, **kwargs)
 
     async def embeddings(self, text: List[str], **kwargs) -> List[List[float]]:
         # parameters provided in kwargs will override the default parameters
diff --git a/implementations/python/python/ockam/squads/squad.py b/implementations/python/python/ockam/squads/squad.py
index 64d135f6825..010e2372e2b 100644
--- a/implementations/python/python/ockam/squads/squad.py
+++ b/implementations/python/python/ockam/squads/squad.py
@@ -1,18 +1,177 @@
-import asyncio
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import Protocol, Optional
 
+from ockam import RemoteNode, WorkerProtocol, LocalNodeProtocol
 
-async def call_agent(agent, query):
-    return await agent.send(query)
+import json
+
+
+class SquadWorkerFactoryProtocol(Protocol):
+    async def create(self, node: LocalNodeProtocol) -> WorkerProtocol: ...
+
+
+class Sharding:
+    pass
+
+
+@dataclass
+class PerNode(Sharding):
+    n: int = 1
+
+
+@dataclass
+class PerItem(Sharding):
+    pass
+
+
+@dataclass
+class SquadStep:
+    name: str
+    worker_factory: SquadWorkerFactoryProtocol
+    sharding: Optional[Sharding] = None
+
+
+def split_list_into_n_parts(lst, n):
+    q, r = divmod(len(lst), n)
+    return [lst[i * q + min(i, r) : (i + 1) * q + min(i + 1, r)] for i in range(n)]
+
+
+class SquadWorker:
+    node: LocalNodeProtocol
+    runners: list[str]
+    prev_step_sharding: Optional[Sharding]
+    steps: list[SquadStep]
+
+    def __init__(self, runners: list[str], prev_step_sharding: Optional[SquadStep], steps: list[SquadStep]):
+        self.runners = runners
+        self.prev_step_sharding = prev_step_sharding
+        self.steps = steps
+
+    def random_address(self) -> str:
+        import secrets
+
+        return secrets.token_hex(6)
+
+    async def handle_message(self, context, message):
+        import json
+        import ockam
+
+        step = self.steps.pop(0)
+
+        if not self.prev_step_sharding or isinstance(self.prev_step_sharding, PerItem):
+            worker_name = self.random_address()
+            worker = await step.worker_factory.create(self.node)
+            await self.node.start_worker(worker_name, worker)
+            reply = await self.node.send_and_receive(worker_name, message, timeout=600)
+            await self.node.stop_worker(worker_name)
+        elif isinstance(self.prev_step_sharding, PerNode):
+            worker_name = self.random_address()
+            worker = await step.worker_factory.create(self.node)
+            await self.node.start_worker(worker_name, worker)
+
+            items = json.loads(message)
+            replies = []
+            for item in items:
+                reply = await self.node.send_and_receive(worker_name, json.dumps(item), timeout=600)
+                reply = json.loads(reply)
+                if isinstance(reply, list):
+                    replies.extend(reply)
+                else:
+                    replies.append(reply)
+
+            await self.node.stop_worker(worker_name)
+            reply = json.dumps(replies)
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(f"Invalid sharding: {self.prev_step_sharding}")
+
+        if not step.sharding:
+            await context.reply(reply)
+        elif isinstance(step.sharding, PerNode):
+            # n = step.sharding.n For now support only 1
+
+            async def start(runner: RemoteNode, chunk):
+                worker_name = self.random_address()
+                worker = SquadWorker(self.runners, step.sharding, self.steps)
+                await runner.start_worker(worker_name, worker)
+
+                mailbox_name = self.random_address()
+                mailbox = await self.node.create_mailbox(mailbox_name)
+
+                await mailbox.send_to_remote(runner.name, worker_name, json.dumps(chunk))
+
+                return runner, worker_name, mailbox
+
+            async def finish(runner: RemoteNode, worker_name: str, mailbox):
+                result = await mailbox.receive(timeout=1000)
+                await runner.stop_worker(worker_name)
+                return json.loads(result)
+
+            items = json.loads(reply)
+
+            if len(self.runners) > len(items):
+                runners = self.runners[: len(items)]
+            else:
+                runners = self.runners
+
+            chunks = split_list_into_n_parts(items, len(runners))
+
+            futures = [start(RemoteNode(self.node, runner), chunk) for runner, chunk in zip(runners, chunks)]
+            handles = await ockam.gather(*futures, batch_size=10)
+
+            futures = [finish(runner, worker_name, mailbox) for runner, worker_name, mailbox in handles]
+            results = await ockam.gather(*futures, batch_size=100)
+
+            await context.reply(json.dumps(results))
+
+        elif isinstance(step.sharding, PerItem):
+
+            async def start(item):
+                worker_name = self.random_address()
+                worker = SquadWorker(self.runners.copy(), step.sharding, self.steps.copy())
+                worker.node = self.node
+                await self.node.start_worker(worker_name, worker)
+
+                mailbox_name = self.random_address()
+                mailbox = await self.node.create_mailbox(mailbox_name)
+
+                await mailbox.send(worker_name, json.dumps(item))
+
+                return worker_name, mailbox
+
+            async def finish(worker_name, mailbox):
+                result = await mailbox.receive(timeout=1000)
+                await self.node.stop_worker(worker_name)
+                return json.loads(result)
+
+            items = json.loads(reply)
+
+            futures = [start(item) for item in items]
+            handles = await ockam.gather(*futures, batch_size=10)
+
+            futures = [finish(worker_name, mailbox) for worker_name, mailbox in handles]
+            results = await ockam.gather(*futures, batch_size=100)
+
+            await context.reply(json.dumps(results))
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(f"Invalid sharding: {step.sharding}")
 
 
 class Squad:
-    def __init__(self):
-        self.coroutines = []
+    @staticmethod
+    async def run(node: LocalNodeProtocol, runners: list[RemoteNode], data, steps: list[SquadStep]):
+        if not steps:
+            return []
+
+        runners = list(map(lambda x: x.name, runners))
+
+        worker = SquadWorker(runners, None, steps)
+        worker.node = node
+        worker_name = worker.random_address()
+
+        await node.start_worker(worker_name, worker)
+
+        result = await node.send_and_receive(worker_name, json.dumps(data), timeout=1000)
 
-    def add(self, agent, query, portals=[]):
-        self.coroutines.append(call_agent(agent, query))
+        await node.stop_worker(worker_name)
 
-    async def run(self):
-        async with asyncio.TaskGroup() as tg:
-            tasks = [tg.create_task(coro) for coro in self.coroutines]
-        return [task.result() for task in tasks]
+        return result
