Issue #30: implement value conversion

Verified with dotnet build src\\MxGateway.sln, dotnet test src\\MxGateway.Worker.Tests\\MxGateway.Worker.Tests.csproj -p:Platform=x86, and dotnet test src\\MxGateway.sln --no-build.

docs/gateway-process-design.md

@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ session ids as protocol faults and close the session.
 
 `WorkerClient` is the gateway-side object that owns one worker connection.
 
-Suggested public shape:
+Current public shape:
 
 ```csharp
 public interface IWorkerClient : IAsyncDisposable
@@ -419,6 +419,7 @@ public interface IWorkerClient : IAsyncDisposable
     string SessionId { get; }
     int? ProcessId { get; }
     WorkerClientState State { get; }
+    DateTimeOffset LastHeartbeatAt { get; }
 
     Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken);
     Task<WorkerCommandReply> InvokeAsync(
@@ -438,12 +439,17 @@ Internally it owns:
 - pipe stream,
 - read loop,
 - write loop,
-- bounded outbound command/control channel,
+- outbound command/control channel serialized by the write loop,
 - bounded inbound event channel,
 - pending command dictionary keyed by correlation id,
 - heartbeat monitor,
 - terminal fault source.
 
+`StartAsync` sends `GatewayHello`, verifies the `WorkerHello` protocol version
+and nonce, waits for `WorkerReady`, and only then exposes `Ready` state. The
+read loop starts after readiness so the handshake has a single owner for its
+ordered frames.
+
 ### Read Loop
 
 The read loop:

docs/mxaccess-worker-instance-design.md

@@ -250,6 +250,17 @@ The loop should update a heartbeat timestamp after:
 - finishing a command,
 - processing an MXAccess event.
 
+`StaRuntime` implements this runtime boundary in the worker. It starts one
+background thread named `MxGateway.Worker.STA`, sets it to `ApartmentState.STA`,
+initializes COM through `StaComApartmentInitializer`, and runs
+`StaMessagePump`. Commands are scheduled through `InvokeAsync`; the command
+queue signals an `AutoResetEvent` so `MsgWaitForMultipleObjectsEx` can wake the
+STA without busy-waiting. `LastActivityUtc` records pump, command, startup, and
+shutdown activity so the future heartbeat/watchdog can report whether the STA
+is still responsive. Shutdown marks the runtime as closing, wakes the pump,
+rejects new commands, cancels queued work, uninitializes COM on the STA, and
+waits for the thread to exit.
+
 ## COM Creation
 
 The MXAccess analysis source at `C:\Users\dohertj2\Desktop\mxaccess` identifies

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/IWorkerClient.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public interface IWorkerClient : IAsyncDisposable
+{
+    string SessionId { get; }
+
+    int? ProcessId { get; }
+
+    WorkerClientState State { get; }
+
+    DateTimeOffset LastHeartbeatAt { get; }
+
+    Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    Task<WorkerCommandReply> InvokeAsync(
+        WorkerCommand command,
+        TimeSpan timeout,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    IAsyncEnumerable<WorkerEvent> ReadEventsAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    Task ShutdownAsync(TimeSpan timeout, CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    void Kill(string reason);
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerClient.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,755 @@
+using System.Collections.Concurrent;
+using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
+using System.Threading.Channels;
+using Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Server.Metrics;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public sealed class WorkerClient : IWorkerClient
+{
+    private const string GatewayVersionFallback = "unknown";
+    private readonly object _syncRoot = new();
+    private readonly WorkerClientConnection _connection;
+    private readonly WorkerClientOptions _options;
+    private readonly GatewayMetrics? _metrics;
+    private readonly TimeProvider _timeProvider;
+    private readonly ILogger<WorkerClient> _logger;
+    private readonly WorkerFrameReader _reader;
+    private readonly WorkerFrameWriter _writer;
+    private readonly Channel<WorkerEnvelope> _outboundEnvelopes;
+    private readonly Channel<WorkerEvent> _events;
+    private readonly ConcurrentDictionary<string, PendingCommand> _pendingCommands = new(StringComparer.Ordinal);
+    private readonly CancellationTokenSource _stopCts = new();
+    private long _nextSequence;
+    private WorkerClientState _state;
+    private DateTimeOffset _lastHeartbeatAt;
+    private int? _processId;
+    private Task? _readLoopTask;
+    private Task? _writeLoopTask;
+    private Task? _heartbeatLoopTask;
+    private bool _disposed;
+
+    public WorkerClient(
+        WorkerClientConnection connection,
+        WorkerClientOptions? options = null,
+        GatewayMetrics? metrics = null,
+        TimeProvider? timeProvider = null,
+        ILogger<WorkerClient>? logger = null)
+    {
+        _connection = connection ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(connection));
+        _options = options ?? new WorkerClientOptions();
+        _metrics = metrics;
+        _timeProvider = timeProvider ?? TimeProvider.System;
+        _logger = logger ?? NullLogger<WorkerClient>.Instance;
+        _reader = new WorkerFrameReader(connection.Stream, connection.FrameOptions);
+        _writer = new WorkerFrameWriter(connection.Stream, connection.FrameOptions);
+        _outboundEnvelopes = Channel.CreateUnbounded<WorkerEnvelope>(
+            new UnboundedChannelOptions
+            {
+                SingleReader = true,
+                SingleWriter = false,
+                AllowSynchronousContinuations = false,
+            });
+        _events = Channel.CreateBounded<WorkerEvent>(
+            new BoundedChannelOptions(_options.EventChannelCapacity)
+            {
+                SingleReader = false,
+                SingleWriter = true,
+                FullMode = BoundedChannelFullMode.Wait,
+                AllowSynchronousContinuations = false,
+            });
+        _lastHeartbeatAt = _timeProvider.GetUtcNow();
+    }
+
+    public string SessionId => _connection.SessionId;
+
+    public int? ProcessId
+    {
+        get
+        {
+            lock (_syncRoot)
+            {
+                return _processId;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public WorkerClientState State
+    {
+        get
+        {
+            lock (_syncRoot)
+            {
+                return _state;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public DateTimeOffset LastHeartbeatAt
+    {
+        get
+        {
+            lock (_syncRoot)
+            {
+                return _lastHeartbeatAt;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        ThrowIfDisposed();
+        TransitionFromCreatedToHandshaking();
+
+        _writeLoopTask = Task.Run(WriteLoopAsync);
+        await EnqueueAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(), cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope helloEnvelope = await ReadHandshakeEnvelopeAsync(
+            WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerHello,
+            cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        ValidateWorkerHello(helloEnvelope.WorkerHello);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope readyEnvelope = await ReadHandshakeEnvelopeAsync(
+            WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerReady,
+            cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        MarkReady(readyEnvelope.WorkerReady);
+
+        _readLoopTask = Task.Run(ReadLoopAsync);
+        _heartbeatLoopTask = Task.Run(HeartbeatLoopAsync);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<WorkerCommandReply> InvokeAsync(
+        WorkerCommand command,
+        TimeSpan timeout,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(command);
+        ThrowIfDisposed();
+        EnsureReady();
+
+        if (timeout <= TimeSpan.Zero)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(timeout), timeout, "Command timeout must be greater than zero.");
+        }
+
+        string correlationId = Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N");
+        string method = GetCommandMethod(command);
+        PendingCommand pendingCommand = new(
+            correlationId,
+            method,
+            _timeProvider.GetTimestamp());
+
+        if (!_pendingCommands.TryAdd(correlationId, pendingCommand))
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("Generated a duplicate command correlation id.");
+        }
+
+        _metrics?.CommandStarted(method);
+
+        try
+        {
+            await EnqueueAsync(CreateCommandEnvelope(correlationId, command), cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            using CancellationTokenSource timeoutCts = CancellationTokenSource.CreateLinkedTokenSource(cancellationToken);
+            Task timeoutTask = Task.Delay(timeout, timeoutCts.Token);
+            Task<WorkerCommandReply> replyTask = pendingCommand.Task;
+            Task completedTask = await Task.WhenAny(replyTask, timeoutTask).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+            if (completedTask == replyTask)
+            {
+                await timeoutCts.CancelAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+                return await replyTask.ConfigureAwait(false);
+            }
+
+            if (cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+            {
+                RemovePendingCommandAsFailed(
+                    correlationId,
+                    pendingCommand,
+                    WorkerClientErrorCode.GatewayShutdown,
+                    "Command wait was canceled.");
+                cancellationToken.ThrowIfCancellationRequested();
+            }
+
+            RemovePendingCommandAsFailed(
+                correlationId,
+                pendingCommand,
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.CommandTimeout,
+                $"Worker command {method} timed out after {timeout}.");
+
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.CommandTimeout,
+                $"Worker command {method} timed out after {timeout}.");
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            _pendingCommands.TryRemove(correlationId, out _);
+            throw;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async IAsyncEnumerable<WorkerEvent> ReadEventsAsync(
+        [EnumeratorCancellation] CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await foreach (WorkerEvent workerEvent in _events.Reader.ReadAllAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false))
+        {
+            yield return workerEvent;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async Task ShutdownAsync(TimeSpan timeout, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        ThrowIfDisposed();
+        if (timeout <= TimeSpan.Zero)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(timeout), timeout, "Shutdown timeout must be greater than zero.");
+        }
+
+        WorkerClientState state = State;
+        if (state is WorkerClientState.Closed or WorkerClientState.Faulted)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        MarkClosing();
+        await EnqueueAsync(CreateShutdownEnvelope(timeout, "gateway-shutdown"), cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        _outboundEnvelopes.Writer.TryComplete();
+
+        using CancellationTokenSource timeoutCts = CancellationTokenSource.CreateLinkedTokenSource(cancellationToken);
+        timeoutCts.CancelAfter(timeout);
+        try
+        {
+            await WaitForBackgroundTasksAsync(timeoutCts.Token).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            MarkClosed("shutdown");
+        }
+        catch (OperationCanceledException) when (!cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+        {
+            SetFaulted(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ShutdownTimeout,
+                "Worker shutdown timed out.",
+                null);
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ShutdownTimeout,
+                $"Worker shutdown timed out after {timeout}.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void Kill(string reason)
+    {
+        ThrowIfDisposed();
+        _connection.ProcessHandle?.Process.Kill(entireProcessTree: true);
+        _metrics?.WorkerKilled(reason);
+        SetFaulted(
+            WorkerClientErrorCode.WorkerFaulted,
+            $"Worker was killed by the gateway: {reason}.",
+            null);
+    }
+
+    public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
+    {
+        if (_disposed)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        _disposed = true;
+        _stopCts.Cancel();
+        _outboundEnvelopes.Writer.TryComplete();
+        _events.Writer.TryComplete();
+        CompletePendingCommands(
+            new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.GatewayShutdown,
+                "Worker client was disposed."));
+
+        await WaitForBackgroundTasksAsync(CancellationToken.None).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        await _connection.Stream.DisposeAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+        _connection.ProcessHandle?.Dispose();
+        _stopCts.Dispose();
+    }
+
+    private async Task WriteLoopAsync()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            await foreach (WorkerEnvelope envelope in _outboundEnvelopes.Reader.ReadAllAsync(_stopCts.Token).ConfigureAwait(false))
+            {
+                await _writer.WriteAsync(envelope, _stopCts.Token).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            }
+        }
+        catch (OperationCanceledException) when (_stopCts.IsCancellationRequested || IsTerminalState())
+        {
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            SetFaulted(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.WriteFailed,
+                "Worker pipe write failed.",
+                exception);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task ReadLoopAsync()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            while (!_stopCts.IsCancellationRequested)
+            {
+                WorkerEnvelope envelope = await _reader.ReadAsync(_stopCts.Token).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                await DispatchEnvelopeAsync(envelope, _stopCts.Token).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            }
+        }
+        catch (OperationCanceledException) when (_stopCts.IsCancellationRequested || IsTerminalState())
+        {
+        }
+        catch (WorkerFrameProtocolException exception) when (exception.ErrorCode == WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.EndOfStream)
+        {
+            SetFaulted(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.PipeDisconnected,
+                "Worker pipe disconnected.",
+                exception);
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            SetFaulted(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                "Worker read loop failed.",
+                exception);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task HeartbeatLoopAsync()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            while (!_stopCts.IsCancellationRequested)
+            {
+                await Task.Delay(_options.HeartbeatCheckInterval, _stopCts.Token).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                if (State != WorkerClientState.Ready)
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                DateTimeOffset lastHeartbeatAt = LastHeartbeatAt;
+                DateTimeOffset now = _timeProvider.GetUtcNow();
+                if (now - lastHeartbeatAt <= _options.HeartbeatGrace)
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                _metrics?.HeartbeatFailed(SessionId);
+                SetFaulted(
+                    WorkerClientErrorCode.HeartbeatExpired,
+                    $"Worker heartbeat expired. Last heartbeat was at {lastHeartbeatAt:O}.",
+                    null);
+            }
+        }
+        catch (OperationCanceledException) when (_stopCts.IsCancellationRequested || IsTerminalState())
+        {
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task DispatchEnvelopeAsync(
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        switch (envelope.BodyCase)
+        {
+            case WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerCommandReply:
+                CompleteCommand(envelope);
+                break;
+            case WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerEvent:
+                await EnqueueWorkerEventAsync(envelope.WorkerEvent, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                break;
+            case WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerHeartbeat:
+                MarkHeartbeat(envelope.WorkerHeartbeat);
+                break;
+            case WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerFault:
+                SetFaulted(
+                    WorkerClientErrorCode.WorkerFaulted,
+                    CreateWorkerFaultMessage(envelope.WorkerFault),
+                    null);
+                break;
+            case WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerShutdownAck:
+                MarkClosed("worker-shutdown-ack");
+                break;
+            default:
+                SetFaulted(
+                    WorkerClientErrorCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                    $"Worker sent unexpected envelope body {envelope.BodyCase}.",
+                    null);
+                break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task EnqueueWorkerEventAsync(
+        WorkerEvent workerEvent,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        if (workerEvent.Event is not null)
+        {
+            _metrics?.EventReceived(SessionId, workerEvent.Event.Family.ToString());
+        }
+
+        if (!await _events.Writer.WaitToWriteAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false))
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (!_events.Writer.TryWrite(workerEvent))
+        {
+            _metrics?.QueueOverflow("worker-events");
+            SetFaulted(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                "Worker event channel rejected an event.",
+                null);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void CompleteCommand(WorkerEnvelope envelope)
+    {
+        string correlationId = envelope.CorrelationId;
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(correlationId))
+        {
+            correlationId = envelope.WorkerCommandReply.Reply?.CorrelationId ?? string.Empty;
+        }
+
+        if (!_pendingCommands.TryRemove(correlationId, out PendingCommand? pendingCommand))
+        {
+            _logger.LogDebug(
+                "Ignoring late or unknown worker command reply for session {SessionId} and correlation {CorrelationId}.",
+                SessionId,
+                correlationId);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        TimeSpan duration = _timeProvider.GetElapsedTime(pendingCommand.StartTimestamp);
+        _metrics?.CommandSucceeded(pendingCommand.Method, duration);
+        pendingCommand.SetResult(envelope.WorkerCommandReply);
+    }
+
+    private void RemovePendingCommandAsFailed(
+        string correlationId,
+        PendingCommand pendingCommand,
+        WorkerClientErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message)
+    {
+        if (!_pendingCommands.TryRemove(correlationId, out _))
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        TimeSpan duration = _timeProvider.GetElapsedTime(pendingCommand.StartTimestamp);
+        _metrics?.CommandFailed(pendingCommand.Method, errorCode.ToString(), duration);
+        pendingCommand.SetException(new WorkerClientException(errorCode, message));
+    }
+
+    private async Task<WorkerEnvelope> ReadHandshakeEnvelopeAsync(
+        WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase expectedBody,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = await _reader.ReadAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        if (envelope.BodyCase != expectedBody)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                $"Worker handshake expected {expectedBody} but received {envelope.BodyCase}.");
+        }
+
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private void ValidateWorkerHello(WorkerHello workerHello)
+    {
+        if (workerHello.ProtocolVersion != _connection.FrameOptions.ProtocolVersion)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                "Worker hello protocol version does not match the gateway protocol version.");
+        }
+
+        if (!string.Equals(workerHello.Nonce, _connection.Nonce, StringComparison.Ordinal))
+        {
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                "Worker hello nonce does not match the gateway nonce.");
+        }
+
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            _processId = workerHello.WorkerProcessId == 0
+                ? _connection.ProcessHandle?.ProcessId
+                : workerHello.WorkerProcessId;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void MarkReady(WorkerReady ready)
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            _processId = ready.WorkerProcessId == 0
+                ? _processId ?? _connection.ProcessHandle?.ProcessId
+                : ready.WorkerProcessId;
+            _lastHeartbeatAt = _timeProvider.GetUtcNow();
+            _state = WorkerClientState.Ready;
+        }
+
+        DateTimeOffset readyAt = _timeProvider.GetUtcNow();
+        DateTimeOffset launchedAt = _connection.ProcessHandle?.LaunchedAt ?? readyAt;
+        _metrics?.WorkerStarted(readyAt - launchedAt);
+    }
+
+    private void MarkHeartbeat(WorkerHeartbeat heartbeat)
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            _lastHeartbeatAt = _timeProvider.GetUtcNow();
+            if (heartbeat.WorkerProcessId != 0)
+            {
+                _processId = heartbeat.WorkerProcessId;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void MarkClosing()
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            if (_state is WorkerClientState.Closed or WorkerClientState.Faulted)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            _state = WorkerClientState.Closing;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void MarkClosed(string reason)
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            if (_state == WorkerClientState.Closed)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            _state = WorkerClientState.Closed;
+        }
+
+        _stopCts.Cancel();
+        _outboundEnvelopes.Writer.TryComplete();
+        _events.Writer.TryComplete();
+        CompletePendingCommands(
+            new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.GatewayShutdown,
+                $"Worker client closed because {reason}."));
+        _metrics?.WorkerStopped(reason);
+    }
+
+    private void SetFaulted(
+        WorkerClientErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message,
+        Exception? exception)
+    {
+        WorkerClientException fault = exception is null
+            ? new WorkerClientException(errorCode, message)
+            : new WorkerClientException(errorCode, message, exception);
+
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            if (_state is WorkerClientState.Faulted or WorkerClientState.Closed)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            _state = WorkerClientState.Faulted;
+        }
+
+        _stopCts.Cancel();
+        _outboundEnvelopes.Writer.TryComplete(fault);
+        _events.Writer.TryComplete(fault);
+        CompletePendingCommands(fault);
+        _metrics?.Fault(errorCode.ToString());
+        _logger.LogWarning(exception, "Worker client faulted for session {SessionId}: {Message}", SessionId, message);
+    }
+
+    private void CompletePendingCommands(Exception exception)
+    {
+        foreach (KeyValuePair<string, PendingCommand> item in _pendingCommands.ToArray())
+        {
+            if (_pendingCommands.TryRemove(item.Key, out PendingCommand? pendingCommand))
+            {
+                TimeSpan duration = _timeProvider.GetElapsedTime(pendingCommand.StartTimestamp);
+                _metrics?.CommandFailed(pendingCommand.Method, exception.GetType().Name, duration);
+                pendingCommand.SetException(exception);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void TransitionFromCreatedToHandshaking()
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            if (_state != WorkerClientState.Created)
+            {
+                throw new WorkerClientException(
+                    WorkerClientErrorCode.InvalidState,
+                    $"Worker client cannot start from state {_state}.");
+            }
+
+            _state = WorkerClientState.Handshaking;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void EnsureReady()
+    {
+        WorkerClientState state = State;
+        if (state != WorkerClientState.Ready)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.InvalidState,
+                $"Worker client is not ready. Current state is {state}.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private bool IsTerminalState()
+    {
+        WorkerClientState state = State;
+        return state is WorkerClientState.Closing or WorkerClientState.Closed or WorkerClientState.Faulted;
+    }
+
+    private async Task EnqueueAsync(
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            await _outboundEnvelopes.Writer.WriteAsync(envelope, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+        catch (ChannelClosedException exception)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.WriteFailed,
+                "Worker outbound channel is closed.",
+                exception);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope()
+    {
+        return CreateEnvelope(
+            correlationId: string.Empty,
+            envelope => envelope.GatewayHello = new GatewayHello
+            {
+                SupportedProtocolVersion = _connection.FrameOptions.ProtocolVersion,
+                Nonce = _connection.Nonce,
+                GatewayVersion = typeof(GatewayContractInfo).Assembly.GetName().Version?.ToString() ?? GatewayVersionFallback,
+            });
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateCommandEnvelope(
+        string correlationId,
+        WorkerCommand command)
+    {
+        return CreateEnvelope(
+            correlationId,
+            envelope => envelope.WorkerCommand = command.Clone());
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateShutdownEnvelope(
+        TimeSpan timeout,
+        string reason)
+    {
+        return CreateEnvelope(
+            correlationId: string.Empty,
+            envelope => envelope.WorkerShutdown = new WorkerShutdown
+            {
+                GracePeriod = Duration.FromTimeSpan(timeout),
+                Reason = reason,
+            });
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateEnvelope(
+        string correlationId,
+        Action<WorkerEnvelope> setBody)
+    {
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = new()
+        {
+            ProtocolVersion = _connection.FrameOptions.ProtocolVersion,
+            SessionId = SessionId,
+            Sequence = (ulong)Interlocked.Increment(ref _nextSequence),
+            CorrelationId = correlationId,
+        };
+        setBody(envelope);
+
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private static string GetCommandMethod(WorkerCommand command)
+    {
+        return command.Command?.Kind.ToString() ?? MxCommandKind.Unspecified.ToString();
+    }
+
+    private static string CreateWorkerFaultMessage(WorkerFault fault)
+    {
+        return string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(fault.DiagnosticMessage)
+            ? $"Worker faulted with category {fault.Category}."
+            : $"Worker faulted with category {fault.Category}: {fault.DiagnosticMessage}";
+    }
+
+    private async Task WaitForBackgroundTasksAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        Task[] tasks = new[] { _readLoopTask, _writeLoopTask, _heartbeatLoopTask }
+            .Where(task => task is not null)
+            .Cast<Task>()
+            .ToArray();
+
+        if (tasks.Length == 0)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        await Task.WhenAll(tasks).WaitAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+    }
+
+    private void ThrowIfDisposed()
+    {
+        ObjectDisposedException.ThrowIf(_disposed, this);
+    }
+
+    private sealed class PendingCommand
+    {
+        private readonly TaskCompletionSource<WorkerCommandReply> _completion = new(TaskCreationOptions.RunContinuationsAsynchronously);
+
+        public PendingCommand(
+            string correlationId,
+            string method,
+            long startTimestamp)
+        {
+            CorrelationId = correlationId;
+            Method = method;
+            StartTimestamp = startTimestamp;
+        }
+
+        public string CorrelationId { get; }
+
+        public string Method { get; }
+
+        public long StartTimestamp { get; }
+
+        public Task<WorkerCommandReply> Task => _completion.Task;
+
+        public void SetResult(WorkerCommandReply reply)
+        {
+            _completion.TrySetResult(reply);
+        }
+
+        public void SetException(Exception exception)
+        {
+            _completion.TrySetException(exception);
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerClientConnection.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public sealed class WorkerClientConnection
+{
+    public WorkerClientConnection(
+        string sessionId,
+        string nonce,
+        Stream stream,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions frameOptions,
+        WorkerProcessHandle? processHandle = null)
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(sessionId))
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentException("Session id is required.", nameof(sessionId));
+        }
+
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(nonce))
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentException("Worker nonce is required.", nameof(nonce));
+        }
+
+        SessionId = sessionId;
+        Nonce = nonce;
+        Stream = stream ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(stream));
+        FrameOptions = frameOptions ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(frameOptions));
+        ProcessHandle = processHandle;
+    }
+
+    public string SessionId { get; }
+
+    public string Nonce { get; }
+
+    public Stream Stream { get; }
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolOptions FrameOptions { get; }
+
+    public WorkerProcessHandle? ProcessHandle { get; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerClientErrorCode.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public enum WorkerClientErrorCode
+{
+    InvalidState,
+    ProtocolViolation,
+    PipeDisconnected,
+    CommandTimeout,
+    WorkerFaulted,
+    HeartbeatExpired,
+    ShutdownTimeout,
+    GatewayShutdown,
+    WriteFailed,
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerClientException.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public sealed class WorkerClientException : Exception
+{
+    public WorkerClientException(
+        WorkerClientErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message)
+        : base(message)
+    {
+        ErrorCode = errorCode;
+    }
+
+    public WorkerClientException(
+        WorkerClientErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message,
+        Exception innerException)
+        : base(message, innerException)
+    {
+        ErrorCode = errorCode;
+    }
+
+    public WorkerClientErrorCode ErrorCode { get; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerClientOptions.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public sealed class WorkerClientOptions
+{
+    public static readonly TimeSpan DefaultHeartbeatGrace = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(15);
+    public static readonly TimeSpan DefaultHeartbeatCheckInterval = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1);
+    public static readonly TimeSpan DefaultEventChannelFullModeTimeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5);
+
+    public WorkerClientOptions()
+    {
+        HeartbeatGrace = DefaultHeartbeatGrace;
+        HeartbeatCheckInterval = DefaultHeartbeatCheckInterval;
+        EventChannelCapacity = 1_024;
+        EventChannelFullModeTimeout = DefaultEventChannelFullModeTimeout;
+    }
+
+    public TimeSpan HeartbeatGrace { get; init; }
+
+    public TimeSpan HeartbeatCheckInterval { get; init; }
+
+    public int EventChannelCapacity { get; init; }
+
+    public TimeSpan EventChannelFullModeTimeout { get; init; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerClientState.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public enum WorkerClientState
+{
+    Created,
+    Handshaking,
+    Ready,
+    Closing,
+    Closed,
+    Faulted,
+}

src/MxGateway.Tests/Gateway/Workers/WorkerClientTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,341 @@
+using System.IO.Pipes;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Tests.Gateway.Workers;
+
+public sealed class WorkerClientTests
+{
+    private const string SessionId = "session-worker-client";
+    private const string Nonce = "nonce-worker-client";
+    private const int WorkerProcessId = 4321;
+    private static readonly TimeSpan TestTimeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5);
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task StartAsync_WithWorkerHelloAndReady_EntersReadyState()
+    {
+        await using PipePair pipePair = await PipePair.CreateAsync();
+        await using WorkerClient client = CreateClient(pipePair);
+
+        await CompleteHandshakeAsync(client, pipePair);
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerClientState.Ready, client.State);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerProcessId, client.ProcessId);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_WithMatchingReply_CompletesPendingCommand()
+    {
+        await using PipePair pipePair = await PipePair.CreateAsync();
+        await using WorkerClient client = CreateClient(pipePair);
+        await CompleteHandshakeAsync(client, pipePair);
+
+        Task<WorkerCommandReply> invokeTask = client.InvokeAsync(
+            CreateCommand(MxCommandKind.Ping),
+            TestTimeout,
+            CancellationToken.None);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope commandEnvelope = await pipePair.WorkerReader.ReadAsync().AsTask().WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerCommand, commandEnvelope.BodyCase);
+        Assert.False(string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(commandEnvelope.CorrelationId));
+
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(
+            CreateCommandReplyEnvelope(commandEnvelope.CorrelationId, MxCommandKind.Ping));
+
+        WorkerCommandReply reply = await invokeTask.WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+
+        Assert.Equal(commandEnvelope.CorrelationId, reply.Reply.CorrelationId);
+        Assert.Equal(MxCommandKind.Ping, reply.Reply.Kind);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_WithLateReply_IgnoresLateReplyAndKeepsClientReady()
+    {
+        await using PipePair pipePair = await PipePair.CreateAsync();
+        await using WorkerClient client = CreateClient(pipePair);
+        await CompleteHandshakeAsync(client, pipePair);
+
+        Task<WorkerCommandReply> timedOutInvokeTask = client.InvokeAsync(
+            CreateCommand(MxCommandKind.Ping),
+            TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(50),
+            CancellationToken.None);
+        WorkerEnvelope timedOutCommand = await pipePair.WorkerReader.ReadAsync().AsTask().WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+
+        WorkerClientException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerClientException>(
+            async () => await timedOutInvokeTask);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerClientErrorCode.CommandTimeout, exception.ErrorCode);
+
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(
+            CreateCommandReplyEnvelope(timedOutCommand.CorrelationId, MxCommandKind.Ping));
+        await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(50));
+
+        Task<WorkerCommandReply> secondInvokeTask = client.InvokeAsync(
+            CreateCommand(MxCommandKind.GetWorkerInfo),
+            TestTimeout,
+            CancellationToken.None);
+        WorkerEnvelope secondCommand = await pipePair.WorkerReader.ReadAsync().AsTask().WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(
+            CreateCommandReplyEnvelope(secondCommand.CorrelationId, MxCommandKind.GetWorkerInfo));
+
+        WorkerCommandReply reply = await secondInvokeTask.WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerClientState.Ready, client.State);
+        Assert.Equal(MxCommandKind.GetWorkerInfo, reply.Reply.Kind);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadEventsAsync_WithWorkerEvents_YieldsEventsInPipeOrder()
+    {
+        await using PipePair pipePair = await PipePair.CreateAsync();
+        await using WorkerClient client = CreateClient(pipePair);
+        await CompleteHandshakeAsync(client, pipePair);
+        using CancellationTokenSource cancellationTokenSource = new(TestTimeout);
+
+        await using IAsyncEnumerator<WorkerEvent> events =
+            client.ReadEventsAsync(cancellationTokenSource.Token).GetAsyncEnumerator(cancellationTokenSource.Token);
+
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(
+            CreateEventEnvelope(sequence: 11, MxEventFamily.OnDataChange));
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(
+            CreateEventEnvelope(sequence: 12, MxEventFamily.OperationComplete));
+
+        Assert.True(await events.MoveNextAsync());
+        Assert.Equal((ulong)11, events.Current.Event.WorkerSequence);
+        Assert.Equal(MxEventFamily.OnDataChange, events.Current.Event.Family);
+
+        Assert.True(await events.MoveNextAsync());
+        Assert.Equal((ulong)12, events.Current.Event.WorkerSequence);
+        Assert.Equal(MxEventFamily.OperationComplete, events.Current.Event.Family);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadLoop_WhenPipeDisconnects_FaultsClient()
+    {
+        await using PipePair pipePair = await PipePair.CreateAsync();
+        await using WorkerClient client = CreateClient(pipePair);
+        await CompleteHandshakeAsync(client, pipePair);
+
+        await pipePair.DisposeWorkerSideAsync();
+
+        await WaitUntilAsync(
+            () => client.State == WorkerClientState.Faulted,
+            TestTimeout);
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerClientState.Faulted, client.State);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task HeartbeatMonitor_WhenHeartbeatExpires_FaultsClient()
+    {
+        await using PipePair pipePair = await PipePair.CreateAsync();
+        await using WorkerClient client = CreateClient(
+            pipePair,
+            new WorkerClientOptions
+            {
+                HeartbeatGrace = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(80),
+                HeartbeatCheckInterval = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(20),
+                EventChannelCapacity = 8,
+            });
+        await CompleteHandshakeAsync(client, pipePair);
+
+        await WaitUntilAsync(
+            () => client.State == WorkerClientState.Faulted,
+            TestTimeout);
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerClientState.Faulted, client.State);
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerClient CreateClient(
+        PipePair pipePair,
+        WorkerClientOptions? options = null)
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions frameOptions = new(SessionId);
+        WorkerClientConnection connection = new(
+            SessionId,
+            Nonce,
+            pipePair.GatewayStream,
+            frameOptions);
+
+        return new WorkerClient(connection, options);
+    }
+
+    private static async Task CompleteHandshakeAsync(
+        WorkerClient client,
+        PipePair pipePair)
+    {
+        Task startTask = client.StartAsync(CancellationToken.None);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope gatewayHello = await pipePair.WorkerReader.ReadAsync().AsTask().WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.GatewayHello, gatewayHello.BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal(Nonce, gatewayHello.GatewayHello.Nonce);
+        Assert.Equal(GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion, gatewayHello.GatewayHello.SupportedProtocolVersion);
+
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(CreateWorkerHelloEnvelope());
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(CreateWorkerReadyEnvelope());
+        await startTask.WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerCommand CreateCommand(MxCommandKind kind)
+    {
+        return new WorkerCommand
+        {
+            Command = new MxCommand
+            {
+                Kind = kind,
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateWorkerHelloEnvelope()
+    {
+        return CreateWorkerEnvelope(
+            correlationId: string.Empty,
+            sequence: 1,
+            envelope => envelope.WorkerHello = new WorkerHello
+            {
+                ProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+                Nonce = Nonce,
+                WorkerProcessId = WorkerProcessId,
+                WorkerVersion = "fake-worker",
+            });
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateWorkerReadyEnvelope()
+    {
+        return CreateWorkerEnvelope(
+            correlationId: string.Empty,
+            sequence: 2,
+            envelope => envelope.WorkerReady = new WorkerReady
+            {
+                WorkerProcessId = WorkerProcessId,
+                MxaccessProgid = "LMXProxy.LMXProxyServer.1",
+                MxaccessClsid = "{C30B52F5-2CB5-4760-AF0A-3A344A7EB5DC}",
+            });
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateCommandReplyEnvelope(
+        string correlationId,
+        MxCommandKind kind)
+    {
+        return CreateWorkerEnvelope(
+            correlationId,
+            sequence: 10,
+            envelope => envelope.WorkerCommandReply = new WorkerCommandReply
+            {
+                Reply = new MxCommandReply
+                {
+                    SessionId = SessionId,
+                    CorrelationId = correlationId,
+                    Kind = kind,
+                },
+            });
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateEventEnvelope(
+        ulong sequence,
+        MxEventFamily family)
+    {
+        return CreateWorkerEnvelope(
+            correlationId: string.Empty,
+            sequence,
+            envelope => envelope.WorkerEvent = new WorkerEvent
+            {
+                Event = new MxEvent
+                {
+                    SessionId = SessionId,
+                    Family = family,
+                    WorkerSequence = sequence,
+                },
+            });
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateWorkerEnvelope(
+        string correlationId,
+        ulong sequence,
+        Action<WorkerEnvelope> setBody)
+    {
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = new()
+        {
+            ProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            SessionId = SessionId,
+            Sequence = sequence,
+            CorrelationId = correlationId,
+        };
+        setBody(envelope);
+
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private static async Task WaitUntilAsync(
+        Func<bool> predicate,
+        TimeSpan timeout)
+    {
+        using CancellationTokenSource cancellationTokenSource = new(timeout);
+        while (!predicate())
+        {
+            await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(10), cancellationTokenSource.Token);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private sealed class PipePair : IAsyncDisposable
+    {
+        private readonly NamedPipeClientStream _workerStream;
+        private bool _workerSideDisposed;
+
+        private PipePair(
+            NamedPipeServerStream gatewayStream,
+            NamedPipeClientStream workerStream)
+        {
+            GatewayStream = gatewayStream;
+            _workerStream = workerStream;
+            WorkerReader = new WorkerFrameReader(_workerStream, new WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(SessionId));
+            WorkerWriter = new WorkerFrameWriter(_workerStream, new WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(SessionId));
+        }
+
+        public NamedPipeServerStream GatewayStream { get; }
+
+        public WorkerFrameReader WorkerReader { get; }
+
+        public WorkerFrameWriter WorkerWriter { get; }
+
+        public static async Task<PipePair> CreateAsync()
+        {
+            string pipeName = $"mxaccessgw-workerclient-tests-{Guid.NewGuid():N}";
+            NamedPipeServerStream gatewayStream = new(
+                pipeName,
+                PipeDirection.InOut,
+                maxNumberOfServerInstances: 1,
+                PipeTransmissionMode.Byte,
+                PipeOptions.Asynchronous);
+            NamedPipeClientStream workerStream = new(
+                ".",
+                pipeName,
+                PipeDirection.InOut,
+                PipeOptions.Asynchronous);
+
+            Task waitForConnectionTask = gatewayStream.WaitForConnectionAsync();
+            await workerStream.ConnectAsync();
+            await waitForConnectionTask;
+
+            return new PipePair(gatewayStream, workerStream);
+        }
+
+        public async ValueTask DisposeWorkerSideAsync()
+        {
+            if (_workerSideDisposed)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            await _workerStream.DisposeAsync();
+            _workerSideDisposed = true;
+        }
+
+        public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
+        {
+            await DisposeWorkerSideAsync();
+            await GatewayStream.DisposeAsync();
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Bootstrap/WorkerApplicationTests.cs

@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 using System;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using MxGateway.Contracts;
 using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
 
 namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Bootstrap;
 
@@ -15,16 +18,19 @@ public sealed class WorkerApplicationTests
         int exitCode = MxGateway.Worker.WorkerApplication.Run(
             ValidArgs(),
             environment,
-            logger);
+            logger,
+            new SucceedingPipeClient());
 
         Assert.Equal((int)WorkerExitCode.Success, exitCode);
-        MemoryWorkerLogEntry entry = Assert.Single(logger.Entries);
+        Assert.Equal(2, logger.Entries.Count);
+        MemoryWorkerLogEntry entry = logger.Entries[0];
         Assert.Equal("Information", entry.Level);
         Assert.Equal("WorkerBootstrapSucceeded", entry.EventName);
         Assert.Equal("session-1", entry.Fields["session_id"]);
         Assert.Equal("mxaccess-gateway-123-session-1", entry.Fields["pipe_name"]);
         Assert.Equal(GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion, entry.Fields["protocol_version"]);
         Assert.Equal("[redacted]", entry.Fields["nonce"]);
+        Assert.Equal("WorkerPipeHandshakeSucceeded", logger.Entries[1].EventName);
     }
 
     [Fact]
@@ -73,6 +79,24 @@ public sealed class WorkerApplicationTests
         Assert.Equal((int)WorkerExitCode.MissingNonce, exitCode);
     }
 
+    [Fact]
+    public void Run_WithPipeProtocolFailure_ReturnsProtocolViolation()
+    {
+        MemoryWorkerEnvironment environment = CreateEnvironment("nonce-secret");
+        MemoryWorkerLogger logger = new();
+
+        int exitCode = MxGateway.Worker.WorkerApplication.Run(
+            ValidArgs(),
+            environment,
+            logger,
+            new ThrowingPipeClient(new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.NonceMismatch,
+                "Bad nonce.")));
+
+        Assert.Equal((int)WorkerExitCode.ProtocolViolation, exitCode);
+        Assert.Equal("WorkerPipeProtocolFailure", logger.Entries[1].EventName);
+    }
+
     [Fact]
     public void Run_WithUnexpectedBootstrapFailure_ReturnsUnexpectedFailure()
     {
@@ -110,4 +134,31 @@ public sealed class WorkerApplicationTests
         environment.Set(WorkerOptions.NonceEnvironmentVariableName, nonce);
         return environment;
     }
+
+    private sealed class SucceedingPipeClient : IWorkerPipeClient
+    {
+        public Task RunAsync(
+            WorkerOptions options,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+        {
+            return Task.CompletedTask;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private sealed class ThrowingPipeClient : IWorkerPipeClient
+    {
+        private readonly Exception _exception;
+
+        public ThrowingPipeClient(Exception exception)
+        {
+            _exception = exception;
+        }
+
+        public Task RunAsync(
+            WorkerOptions options,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+        {
+            throw _exception;
+        }
+    }
 }

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Conversion/VariantConverterTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+using System;
+using Google.Protobuf;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Conversion;
+using ProtobufTimestamp = Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes.Timestamp;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Conversion;
+
+public sealed class VariantConverterTests
+{
+    private readonly VariantConverter _converter = new();
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(true, MxDataType.Boolean, MxValue.KindOneofCase.BoolValue)]
+    [InlineData(42, MxDataType.Integer, MxValue.KindOneofCase.Int32Value)]
+    [InlineData(42L, MxDataType.Integer, MxValue.KindOneofCase.Int64Value)]
+    [InlineData(1.25f, MxDataType.Float, MxValue.KindOneofCase.FloatValue)]
+    [InlineData(2.5d, MxDataType.Double, MxValue.KindOneofCase.DoubleValue)]
+    [InlineData("value", MxDataType.String, MxValue.KindOneofCase.StringValue)]
+    public void Convert_WithSupportedScalar_ProjectsTypedValue(
+        object value,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType,
+        MxValue.KindOneofCase expectedKind)
+    {
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(value);
+
+        Assert.Equal(expectedDataType, converted.DataType);
+        Assert.Equal(expectedKind, converted.KindCase);
+        Assert.False(string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(converted.VariantType));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Convert_WithDateTime_ProjectsTimestamp()
+    {
+        DateTime dateTime = new(2026, 4, 26, 17, 45, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc);
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(dateTime);
+
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.Time, converted.DataType);
+        Assert.Equal(ProtobufTimestamp.FromDateTime(dateTime), converted.TimestampValue);
+        Assert.Equal("VT_DATE", converted.VariantType);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Convert_WithFileTimeAndExpectedTime_ProjectsTimestamp()
+    {
+        DateTime dateTime = new(2026, 4, 26, 17, 45, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc);
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(dateTime.ToFileTimeUtc(), MxDataType.Time);
+
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.Time, converted.DataType);
+        Assert.Equal(ProtobufTimestamp.FromDateTime(dateTime), converted.TimestampValue);
+        Assert.Equal("VT_I8", converted.VariantType);
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(null, "VT_EMPTY")]
+    [InlineData(typeof(DBNull), "VT_NULL")]
+    public void Convert_WithNullLikeValue_PreservesNull(
+        object? value,
+        string expectedVariantType)
+    {
+        object? actualValue = value is System.Type ? DBNull.Value : value;
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(actualValue);
+
+        Assert.True(converted.IsNull);
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.NoData, converted.DataType);
+        Assert.Equal(expectedVariantType, converted.VariantType);
+        Assert.Equal(MxValue.KindOneofCase.None, converted.KindCase);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ConvertArray_WithSupportedArrays_ProjectsTypedValuesAndDimensions()
+    {
+        MxValue bools = _converter.Convert(new[] { true, false });
+        MxValue ints = _converter.Convert(new[] { 1, 2, 3 });
+        MxValue floats = _converter.Convert(new[] { 1.25f, 2.5f });
+        MxValue doubles = _converter.Convert(new[] { 1.25d, 2.5d });
+        MxValue strings = _converter.Convert(new[] { "one", "two" });
+        MxValue times = _converter.Convert(new[]
+        {
+            new DateTime(2026, 4, 26, 17, 45, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc),
+            new DateTime(2026, 4, 26, 17, 46, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc),
+        });
+
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { true, false }, bools.ArrayValue.BoolValues.Values);
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { 1, 2, 3 }, ints.ArrayValue.Int32Values.Values);
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { 1.25f, 2.5f }, floats.ArrayValue.FloatValues.Values);
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { 1.25d, 2.5d }, doubles.ArrayValue.DoubleValues.Values);
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { "one", "two" }, strings.ArrayValue.StringValues.Values);
+        Assert.Equal(2, times.ArrayValue.TimestampValues.Values.Count);
+        Assert.Equal(new uint[] { 2 }, bools.ArrayValue.Dimensions);
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.Boolean, bools.ArrayValue.ElementDataType);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ConvertArray_WithMultidimensionalArray_PreservesRankAndDimensions()
+    {
+        int[,] values =
+        {
+            { 1, 2, 3 },
+            { 4, 5, 6 },
+        };
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(values);
+
+        Assert.Equal(new uint[] { 2, 3 }, converted.ArrayValue.Dimensions);
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 }, converted.ArrayValue.Int32Values.Values);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ConvertArray_WithExpectedTimeAndFileTimeValues_ProjectsTimestampArray()
+    {
+        DateTime first = new(2026, 4, 26, 17, 45, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc);
+        DateTime second = new(2026, 4, 26, 17, 46, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc);
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(
+            new[] { first.ToFileTimeUtc(), second.ToFileTimeUtc() },
+            MxDataType.Time);
+
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.Time, converted.ArrayValue.ElementDataType);
+        Assert.Equal(
+            new[] { ProtobufTimestamp.FromDateTime(first), ProtobufTimestamp.FromDateTime(second) },
+            converted.ArrayValue.TimestampValues.Values);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Convert_WithUnknownScalar_PreservesRawMetadata()
+    {
+        UnsupportedVariant value = new("opaque");
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(value);
+
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.Unknown, converted.DataType);
+        Assert.Equal(MxValue.KindOneofCase.RawValue, converted.KindCase);
+        Assert.Contains(typeof(UnsupportedVariant).FullName!, converted.VariantType);
+        Assert.Contains(typeof(UnsupportedVariant).FullName!, converted.RawDiagnostic);
+        Assert.Equal(ByteString.CopyFromUtf8("opaque"), converted.RawValue);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ConvertArray_WithUnknownArray_PreservesRawMetadata()
+    {
+        UnsupportedVariant[] values =
+        [
+            new("first"),
+            new("second"),
+        ];
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(values);
+
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.Unknown, converted.ArrayValue.ElementDataType);
+        Assert.Equal(MxArray.ValuesOneofCase.RawValues, converted.ArrayValue.ValuesCase);
+        Assert.Equal(new uint[] { 2 }, converted.ArrayValue.Dimensions);
+        Assert.Equal("first", converted.ArrayValue.RawValues.Values[0].ToStringUtf8());
+        Assert.Contains(typeof(UnsupportedVariant).FullName!, converted.ArrayValue.RawDiagnostic);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Redactor_WithCredentialBearingValueFields_RedactsBeforeLogging()
+    {
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerLogRedactor.RedactedValue, WorkerLogRedactor.RedactValue("credential_value", "secret"));
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerLogRedactor.RedactedValue, WorkerLogRedactor.RedactValue("password_value", "secret"));
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerLogRedactor.RedactedValue, WorkerLogRedactor.RedactValue("secured_write_token", "secret"));
+    }
+
+    private sealed class UnsupportedVariant
+    {
+        private readonly string _value;
+
+        public UnsupportedVariant(string value)
+        {
+            _value = value;
+        }
+
+        public override string ToString()
+        {
+            return _value;
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Ipc/WorkerFrameProtocolTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Google.Protobuf;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerFrameProtocolTests
+{
+    private const string SessionId = "session-1";
+    private const string Nonce = "nonce-secret";
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task WriteAndReadAsync_WithValidEnvelope_RoundTripsFrame()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream stream = new();
+        WorkerEnvelope original = CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope();
+
+        WorkerFrameWriter writer = new(stream, options);
+        await writer.WriteAsync(original);
+        stream.Position = 0;
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        WorkerEnvelope parsed = await reader.ReadAsync();
+
+        Assert.Equal(original, parsed);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadAsync_WithWrongProtocolVersion_ThrowsProtocolVersionMismatch()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope();
+        envelope.ProtocolVersion++;
+        MemoryStream stream = new(CreateFrame(envelope));
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await reader.ReadAsync());
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.ProtocolVersionMismatch, exception.ErrorCode);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadAsync_WithWrongSessionId_ThrowsSessionMismatch()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope();
+        envelope.SessionId = "different-session";
+        MemoryStream stream = new(CreateFrame(envelope));
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await reader.ReadAsync());
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.SessionMismatch, exception.ErrorCode);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadAsync_WithMalformedLength_ThrowsMalformedLength()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream stream = new(new byte[sizeof(uint)]);
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await reader.ReadAsync());
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.MalformedLength, exception.ErrorCode);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadAsync_WithMalformedPayload_ThrowsInvalidEnvelope()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream stream = new(CreateFrame(new byte[] { 0x80 }));
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await reader.ReadAsync());
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidEnvelope, exception.ErrorCode);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task WriteAsync_WithConcurrentCalls_SerializesCompleteFrames()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream stream = new();
+        WorkerFrameWriter writer = new(stream, options);
+
+        await Task.WhenAll(
+            writer.WriteAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(sequence: 1)),
+            writer.WriteAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(sequence: 2)),
+            writer.WriteAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(sequence: 3)));
+
+        stream.Position = 0;
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope first = await reader.ReadAsync();
+        WorkerEnvelope second = await reader.ReadAsync();
+        WorkerEnvelope third = await reader.ReadAsync();
+
+        Assert.Equal(new ulong[] { 1, 2, 3 }, new[] { first.Sequence, second.Sequence, third.Sequence }.OrderBy(sequence => sequence));
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerFrameProtocolOptions CreateOptions()
+    {
+        return new WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(
+            SessionId,
+            GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            Nonce);
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(ulong sequence = 1)
+    {
+        return new WorkerEnvelope
+        {
+            ProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            SessionId = SessionId,
+            Sequence = sequence,
+            GatewayHello = new GatewayHello
+            {
+                SupportedProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+                Nonce = Nonce,
+                GatewayVersion = "test-gateway",
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static byte[] CreateFrame(IMessage message)
+    {
+        return CreateFrame(message.ToByteArray());
+    }
+
+    private static byte[] CreateFrame(byte[] payload)
+    {
+        byte[] frame = new byte[sizeof(uint) + payload.Length];
+        WriteUInt32LittleEndian(frame, (uint)payload.Length);
+        payload.CopyTo(frame, sizeof(uint));
+
+        return frame;
+    }
+
+    private static void WriteUInt32LittleEndian(
+        byte[] buffer,
+        uint value)
+    {
+        buffer[0] = (byte)value;
+        buffer[1] = (byte)(value >> 8);
+        buffer[2] = (byte)(value >> 16);
+        buffer[3] = (byte)(value >> 24);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Ipc/WorkerPipeClientTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+using System;
+using System.IO.Pipes;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerPipeClientTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task RunAsync_ConnectsToPipeAndCompletesHandshake()
+    {
+        string pipeName = $"mxaccess-gateway-test-{Guid.NewGuid():N}";
+        WorkerOptions workerOptions = new(
+            "session-1",
+            pipeName,
+            GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            "nonce-secret");
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions frameOptions = new(workerOptions);
+
+        using NamedPipeServerStream server = new(
+            pipeName,
+            PipeDirection.InOut,
+            1,
+            PipeTransmissionMode.Byte,
+            PipeOptions.Asynchronous);
+
+        WorkerPipeClient client = new(connectTimeoutMilliseconds: 5000);
+        Task clientTask = client.RunAsync(workerOptions);
+
+        await Task.Factory.FromAsync(server.BeginWaitForConnection, server.EndWaitForConnection, null);
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(server, frameOptions);
+        WorkerFrameWriter writer = new(server, frameOptions);
+
+        await writer.WriteAsync(new WorkerEnvelope
+        {
+            ProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            SessionId = "session-1",
+            Sequence = 1,
+            GatewayHello = new GatewayHello
+            {
+                SupportedProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+                Nonce = "nonce-secret",
+                GatewayVersion = "test-gateway",
+            },
+        });
+
+        WorkerEnvelope hello = await reader.ReadAsync();
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerHello, hello.BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal("nonce-secret", hello.WorkerHello.Nonce);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope ready = await reader.ReadAsync();
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerReady, ready.BodyCase);
+
+        await clientTask;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Ipc/WorkerPipeSessionTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerPipeSessionTests
+{
+    private const string SessionId = "session-1";
+    private const string Nonce = "nonce-secret";
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync_WithValidGatewayHello_SendsHelloThenReady()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream inbound = new();
+        await new WorkerFrameWriter(inbound, options).WriteAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope());
+        inbound.Position = 0;
+        MemoryStream outbound = new();
+        WorkerPipeSession session = CreateSession(inbound, outbound, options);
+        bool initialized = false;
+
+        await session.CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(
+            _ =>
+            {
+                initialized = true;
+                return Task.CompletedTask;
+            });
+
+        Assert.True(initialized);
+        WorkerEnvelope[] written = ReadWrittenFrames(outbound, options);
+        Assert.Equal(2, written.Length);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerHello, written[0].BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerReady, written[1].BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal(Nonce, written[0].WorkerHello.Nonce);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync_WithWrongNonce_FaultsBeforeInitialization()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream inbound = new();
+        await new WorkerFrameWriter(inbound, options).WriteAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(nonce: "wrong"));
+        inbound.Position = 0;
+        MemoryStream outbound = new();
+        WorkerPipeSession session = CreateSession(inbound, outbound, options);
+        bool initialized = false;
+
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await session.CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(
+                    _ =>
+                    {
+                        initialized = true;
+                        return Task.CompletedTask;
+                    }));
+
+        Assert.False(initialized);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.NonceMismatch, exception.ErrorCode);
+        WorkerEnvelope fault = Assert.Single(ReadWrittenFrames(outbound, options));
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerFault, fault.BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFaultCategory.ProtocolViolation, fault.WorkerFault.Category);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync_WithWrongProtocol_FaultsBeforeInitialization()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream inbound = new();
+        await new WorkerFrameWriter(inbound, options).WriteAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(supportedProtocolVersion: 999));
+        inbound.Position = 0;
+        MemoryStream outbound = new();
+        WorkerPipeSession session = CreateSession(inbound, outbound, options);
+        bool initialized = false;
+
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await session.CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(
+                    _ =>
+                    {
+                        initialized = true;
+                        return Task.CompletedTask;
+                    }));
+
+        Assert.False(initialized);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.ProtocolVersionMismatch, exception.ErrorCode);
+        WorkerEnvelope fault = Assert.Single(ReadWrittenFrames(outbound, options));
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFaultCategory.ProtocolMismatch, fault.WorkerFault.Category);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync_WithMalformedFrame_WritesWorkerFault()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream inbound = new(CreateFrame(new byte[] { 0x80 }));
+        MemoryStream outbound = new();
+        WorkerPipeSession session = CreateSession(inbound, outbound, options);
+        bool initialized = false;
+
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await session.CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(
+                    _ =>
+                    {
+                        initialized = true;
+                        return Task.CompletedTask;
+                    }));
+
+        Assert.False(initialized);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidEnvelope, exception.ErrorCode);
+        WorkerEnvelope fault = Assert.Single(ReadWrittenFrames(outbound, options));
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerFault, fault.BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFaultCategory.ProtocolViolation, fault.WorkerFault.Category);
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerPipeSession CreateSession(
+        Stream inbound,
+        Stream outbound,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options)
+    {
+        return new WorkerPipeSession(
+            new WorkerFrameReader(inbound, options),
+            new WorkerFrameWriter(outbound, options),
+            options,
+            () => 1234);
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerFrameProtocolOptions CreateOptions()
+    {
+        return new WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(
+            SessionId,
+            GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            Nonce);
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(
+        string nonce = Nonce,
+        uint supportedProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion)
+    {
+        return new WorkerEnvelope
+        {
+            ProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            SessionId = SessionId,
+            Sequence = 1,
+            GatewayHello = new GatewayHello
+            {
+                SupportedProtocolVersion = supportedProtocolVersion,
+                Nonce = nonce,
+                GatewayVersion = "test-gateway",
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope[] ReadWrittenFrames(
+        MemoryStream stream,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options)
+    {
+        stream.Position = 0;
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        List<WorkerEnvelope> envelopes = new();
+
+        while (stream.Position < stream.Length)
+        {
+            envelopes.Add(reader.ReadAsync(CancellationToken.None).GetAwaiter().GetResult());
+        }
+
+        return envelopes.ToArray();
+    }
+
+    private static byte[] CreateFrame(byte[] payload)
+    {
+        byte[] frame = new byte[sizeof(uint) + payload.Length];
+        WriteUInt32LittleEndian(frame, (uint)payload.Length);
+        payload.CopyTo(frame, sizeof(uint));
+
+        return frame;
+    }
+
+    private static void WriteUInt32LittleEndian(
+        byte[] buffer,
+        uint value)
+    {
+        buffer[0] = (byte)value;
+        buffer[1] = (byte)(value >> 8);
+        buffer[2] = (byte)(value >> 16);
+        buffer[3] = (byte)(value >> 24);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Sta/StaRuntimeTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+using System;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Sta;
+
+public sealed class StaRuntimeTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_ExecutesCommandOnStaThread()
+    {
+        RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = CreateRuntime(initializer);
+
+        runtime.Start();
+
+        StaCommandObservation observation = await runtime.InvokeAsync(
+            () => new StaCommandObservation(
+                Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId,
+                Thread.CurrentThread.GetApartmentState()));
+
+        Assert.Equal(runtime.StaThreadId, observation.ThreadId);
+        Assert.Equal(initializer.InitializeThreadId, observation.ThreadId);
+        Assert.Equal(ApartmentState.STA, observation.ApartmentState);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_WakesIdlePumpForQueuedCommand()
+    {
+        RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = new(
+            initializer,
+            new StaMessagePump(),
+            TimeSpan.FromSeconds(30));
+        runtime.Start();
+        Stopwatch stopwatch = Stopwatch.StartNew();
+
+        int threadId = await runtime.InvokeAsync(() => Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId);
+
+        stopwatch.Stop();
+        Assert.Equal(runtime.StaThreadId, threadId);
+        Assert.True(
+            stopwatch.Elapsed < TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2),
+            $"Command took {stopwatch.Elapsed} to execute, so the command wake event did not wake the STA promptly.");
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Shutdown_StopsThreadAndUninitializesComApartment()
+    {
+        RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = CreateRuntime(initializer);
+        runtime.Start();
+
+        bool stopped = runtime.Shutdown(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2));
+
+        Assert.True(stopped);
+        Assert.False(runtime.IsRunning);
+        Assert.Equal(1, initializer.InitializeCount);
+        Assert.Equal(1, initializer.UninitializeCount);
+        Assert.Equal(initializer.InitializeThreadId, initializer.UninitializeThreadId);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void LastActivityUtc_UpdatesWhilePumpIsIdle()
+    {
+        RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = CreateRuntime(initializer);
+        runtime.Start();
+        DateTimeOffset firstActivity = runtime.LastActivityUtc;
+
+        bool updated = SpinWait.SpinUntil(
+            () => runtime.LastActivityUtc > firstActivity,
+            TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2));
+
+        Assert.True(updated);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_CommandException_FaultsReturnedTaskWithoutStoppingRuntime()
+    {
+        RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = CreateRuntime(initializer);
+        runtime.Start();
+
+        InvalidOperationException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<InvalidOperationException>(
+            () => runtime.InvokeAsync<int>(() => throw new InvalidOperationException("command failed")));
+
+        int threadId = await runtime.InvokeAsync(() => Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId);
+        Assert.Equal("command failed", exception.Message);
+        Assert.Equal(runtime.StaThreadId, threadId);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_AfterShutdown_ReturnsFaultedTask()
+    {
+        RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = CreateRuntime(initializer);
+        runtime.Start();
+        runtime.Shutdown(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2));
+
+        InvalidOperationException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<InvalidOperationException>(
+            () => runtime.InvokeAsync(() => Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId));
+
+        Assert.Contains("shutting down", exception.Message);
+    }
+
+    private static StaRuntime CreateRuntime(RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer)
+    {
+        return new StaRuntime(
+            initializer,
+            new StaMessagePump(),
+            TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(25));
+    }
+
+    private sealed class StaCommandObservation
+    {
+        public StaCommandObservation(int threadId, ApartmentState apartmentState)
+        {
+            ThreadId = threadId;
+            ApartmentState = apartmentState;
+        }
+
+        public int ThreadId { get; }
+
+        public ApartmentState ApartmentState { get; }
+    }
+
+    private sealed class RecordingComApartmentInitializer : IStaComApartmentInitializer
+    {
+        public int InitializeCount { get; private set; }
+
+        public int UninitializeCount { get; private set; }
+
+        public int? InitializeThreadId { get; private set; }
+
+        public int? UninitializeThreadId { get; private set; }
+
+        public void Initialize()
+        {
+            InitializeCount++;
+            InitializeThreadId = Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId;
+        }
+
+        public void Uninitialize()
+        {
+            UninitializeCount++;
+            UninitializeThreadId = Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId;
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Bootstrap/WorkerExitCode.cs

@@ -7,4 +7,6 @@ public enum WorkerExitCode
     InvalidArguments = 2,
     InvalidProtocolVersion = 3,
     MissingNonce = 4,
+    PipeConnectionFailed = 5,
+    ProtocolViolation = 6,
 }

src/MxGateway.Worker/Conversion/VariantConverter.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,522 @@
+using System;
+using System.Globalization;
+using Google.Protobuf;
+using Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Conversion;
+
+public sealed class VariantConverter
+{
+    public MxValue Convert(object? value)
+    {
+        return Convert(value, MxDataType.Unspecified);
+    }
+
+    public MxValue Convert(
+        object? value,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType)
+    {
+        if (value is null || value is DBNull)
+        {
+            return CreateNullValue(value, expectedDataType);
+        }
+
+        if (value is Array array)
+        {
+            return new MxValue
+            {
+                DataType = MxDataType.Unspecified,
+                VariantType = CreateArrayVariantType(array),
+                ArrayValue = ConvertArray(array, expectedDataType),
+            };
+        }
+
+        return ConvertScalar(value, expectedDataType);
+    }
+
+    public MxArray ConvertArray(
+        Array array,
+        MxDataType expectedElementDataType = MxDataType.Unspecified)
+    {
+        if (array is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(array));
+        }
+
+        MxArray mxArray = new()
+        {
+            VariantType = CreateArrayVariantType(array),
+        };
+
+        for (int dimension = 0; dimension < array.Rank; dimension++)
+        {
+            mxArray.Dimensions.Add((uint)array.GetLength(dimension));
+        }
+
+        System.Type? elementType = array.GetType().GetElementType();
+        MxDataType elementDataType = ResolveArrayElementDataType(elementType, expectedElementDataType);
+        mxArray.ElementDataType = elementDataType;
+
+        switch (elementDataType)
+        {
+            case MxDataType.Boolean:
+                mxArray.BoolValues = ConvertBoolArray(array);
+                return mxArray;
+
+            case MxDataType.Integer:
+                if (elementType == typeof(long) || elementType == typeof(ulong))
+                {
+                    mxArray.Int64Values = ConvertInt64Array(array);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    mxArray.Int32Values = ConvertInt32Array(array);
+                }
+
+                return mxArray;
+
+            case MxDataType.Float:
+                mxArray.FloatValues = ConvertFloatArray(array);
+                return mxArray;
+
+            case MxDataType.Double:
+                mxArray.DoubleValues = ConvertDoubleArray(array);
+                return mxArray;
+
+            case MxDataType.String:
+                mxArray.StringValues = ConvertStringArray(array);
+                return mxArray;
+
+            case MxDataType.Time:
+                mxArray.TimestampValues = ConvertTimestampArray(array);
+                return mxArray;
+
+            default:
+                mxArray.ElementDataType = MxDataType.Unknown;
+                mxArray.RawElementDataType = (int)expectedElementDataType;
+                mxArray.RawDiagnostic = CreateRawDiagnostic(array);
+                mxArray.RawValues = ConvertRawArray(array);
+                return mxArray;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static MxValue ConvertScalar(
+        object value,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType)
+    {
+        System.Type valueType = value.GetType();
+        string variantType = GetVariantTypeName(valueType);
+
+        switch (System.Type.GetTypeCode(valueType))
+        {
+            case TypeCode.Boolean:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.Boolean,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    BoolValue = (bool)value,
+                };
+
+            case TypeCode.Byte:
+            case TypeCode.SByte:
+            case TypeCode.Int16:
+            case TypeCode.UInt16:
+            case TypeCode.Int32:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.Integer,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    Int32Value = System.Convert.ToInt32(value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture),
+                };
+
+            case TypeCode.UInt32:
+            case TypeCode.Int64:
+                return ConvertInt64Scalar(value, variantType, expectedDataType);
+
+            case TypeCode.UInt64:
+                return ConvertUInt64Scalar((ulong)value, variantType, expectedDataType);
+
+            case TypeCode.Single:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.Float,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    FloatValue = (float)value,
+                };
+
+            case TypeCode.Double:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.Double,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    DoubleValue = (double)value,
+                };
+
+            case TypeCode.Decimal:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.Double,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    DoubleValue = System.Convert.ToDouble(value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture),
+                    RawDiagnostic = "Decimal value projected to double.",
+                };
+
+            case TypeCode.String:
+            case TypeCode.Char:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.String,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    StringValue = System.Convert.ToString(value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) ?? string.Empty,
+                };
+
+            case TypeCode.DateTime:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.Time,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    TimestampValue = ToTimestamp((DateTime)value),
+                };
+
+            default:
+                return CreateRawValue(value, expectedDataType);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static MxValue ConvertInt64Scalar(
+        object value,
+        string variantType,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType)
+    {
+        long longValue = System.Convert.ToInt64(value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+        if (expectedDataType == MxDataType.Time)
+        {
+            return new MxValue
+            {
+                DataType = MxDataType.Time,
+                VariantType = variantType,
+                TimestampValue = Timestamp.FromDateTime(DateTime.FromFileTimeUtc(longValue)),
+            };
+        }
+
+        return new MxValue
+        {
+            DataType = MxDataType.Integer,
+            VariantType = variantType,
+            Int64Value = longValue,
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static MxValue ConvertUInt64Scalar(
+        ulong value,
+        string variantType,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType)
+    {
+        if (expectedDataType == MxDataType.Time && value <= long.MaxValue)
+        {
+            return new MxValue
+            {
+                DataType = MxDataType.Time,
+                VariantType = variantType,
+                TimestampValue = Timestamp.FromDateTime(DateTime.FromFileTimeUtc((long)value)),
+            };
+        }
+
+        if (value <= long.MaxValue)
+        {
+            return new MxValue
+            {
+                DataType = MxDataType.Integer,
+                VariantType = variantType,
+                Int64Value = (long)value,
+            };
+        }
+
+        return CreateRawValue(value, expectedDataType, "UInt64 value exceeds Int64 range.");
+    }
+
+    private static MxValue CreateNullValue(
+        object? value,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType)
+    {
+        return new MxValue
+        {
+            DataType = expectedDataType == MxDataType.Unspecified ? MxDataType.NoData : expectedDataType,
+            VariantType = value is DBNull ? "VT_NULL" : "VT_EMPTY",
+            IsNull = true,
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static MxValue CreateRawValue(
+        object value,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType,
+        string? diagnosticPrefix = null)
+    {
+        string diagnostic = CreateRawDiagnostic(value);
+        if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(diagnosticPrefix))
+        {
+            diagnostic = $"{diagnosticPrefix} {diagnostic}";
+        }
+
+        return new MxValue
+        {
+            DataType = MxDataType.Unknown,
+            VariantType = GetVariantTypeName(value.GetType()),
+            RawDataType = (int)expectedDataType,
+            RawDiagnostic = diagnostic,
+            RawValue = ByteString.CopyFromUtf8(System.Convert.ToString(value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) ?? string.Empty),
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static BoolArray ConvertBoolArray(Array array)
+    {
+        BoolArray values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            values.Values.Add(item is not null && System.Convert.ToBoolean(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static Int32Array ConvertInt32Array(Array array)
+    {
+        Int32Array values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            values.Values.Add(item is null ? 0 : System.Convert.ToInt32(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static Int64Array ConvertInt64Array(Array array)
+    {
+        Int64Array values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            values.Values.Add(item is null ? 0 : System.Convert.ToInt64(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static FloatArray ConvertFloatArray(Array array)
+    {
+        FloatArray values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            values.Values.Add(item is null ? 0 : System.Convert.ToSingle(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static DoubleArray ConvertDoubleArray(Array array)
+    {
+        DoubleArray values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            values.Values.Add(item is null ? 0 : System.Convert.ToDouble(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static StringArray ConvertStringArray(Array array)
+    {
+        StringArray values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            values.Values.Add(item is null ? string.Empty : System.Convert.ToString(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) ?? string.Empty);
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static TimestampArray ConvertTimestampArray(Array array)
+    {
+        TimestampArray values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            if (item is null)
+            {
+                values.Values.Add(Timestamp.FromDateTime(new DateTime(1970, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc)));
+            }
+            else if (item is DateTime dateTime)
+            {
+                values.Values.Add(ToTimestamp(dateTime));
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                long fileTime = System.Convert.ToInt64(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+                values.Values.Add(Timestamp.FromDateTime(DateTime.FromFileTimeUtc(fileTime)));
+            }
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static RawArray ConvertRawArray(Array array)
+    {
+        RawArray values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            string rawValue = item is null
+                ? string.Empty
+                : System.Convert.ToString(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) ?? string.Empty;
+            values.Values.Add(ByteString.CopyFromUtf8(rawValue));
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static MxDataType ResolveArrayElementDataType(
+        System.Type? elementType,
+        MxDataType expectedElementDataType)
+    {
+        if (expectedElementDataType != MxDataType.Unspecified)
+        {
+            return expectedElementDataType;
+        }
+
+        if (elementType == typeof(bool))
+        {
+            return MxDataType.Boolean;
+        }
+
+        if (elementType == typeof(byte)
+            || elementType == typeof(sbyte)
+            || elementType == typeof(short)
+            || elementType == typeof(ushort)
+            || elementType == typeof(int)
+            || elementType == typeof(uint)
+            || elementType == typeof(long)
+            || elementType == typeof(ulong))
+        {
+            return MxDataType.Integer;
+        }
+
+        if (elementType == typeof(float))
+        {
+            return MxDataType.Float;
+        }
+
+        if (elementType == typeof(double) || elementType == typeof(decimal))
+        {
+            return MxDataType.Double;
+        }
+
+        if (elementType == typeof(string) || elementType == typeof(char))
+        {
+            return MxDataType.String;
+        }
+
+        if (elementType == typeof(DateTime))
+        {
+            return MxDataType.Time;
+        }
+
+        return MxDataType.Unknown;
+    }
+
+    private static Timestamp ToTimestamp(DateTime dateTime)
+    {
+        DateTime utcDateTime = dateTime.Kind switch
+        {
+            DateTimeKind.Utc => dateTime,
+            DateTimeKind.Local => dateTime.ToUniversalTime(),
+            _ => DateTime.SpecifyKind(dateTime, DateTimeKind.Utc),
+        };
+
+        return Timestamp.FromDateTime(utcDateTime);
+    }
+
+    private static string CreateArrayVariantType(Array array)
+    {
+        System.Type? elementType = array.GetType().GetElementType();
+        return $"SAFEARRAY({GetVariantTypeName(elementType)})";
+    }
+
+    private static string GetVariantTypeName(System.Type? type)
+    {
+        if (type is null)
+        {
+            return "VT_EMPTY";
+        }
+
+        System.Type nonNullableType = Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(type) ?? type;
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(bool))
+        {
+            return "VT_BOOL";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(byte))
+        {
+            return "VT_UI1";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(sbyte))
+        {
+            return "VT_I1";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(short))
+        {
+            return "VT_I2";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(ushort))
+        {
+            return "VT_UI2";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(int))
+        {
+            return "VT_I4";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(uint))
+        {
+            return "VT_UI4";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(long))
+        {
+            return "VT_I8";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(ulong))
+        {
+            return "VT_UI8";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(float))
+        {
+            return "VT_R4";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(double) || nonNullableType == typeof(decimal))
+        {
+            return "VT_R8";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(string) || nonNullableType == typeof(char))
+        {
+            return "VT_BSTR";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(DateTime))
+        {
+            return "VT_DATE";
+        }
+
+        return $"CLR:{nonNullableType.FullName}";
+    }
+
+    private static string CreateRawDiagnostic(object value)
+    {
+        return $"Unsupported variant projection for CLR type '{value.GetType().FullName}'.";
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/IWorkerPipeClient.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public interface IWorkerPipeClient
+{
+    Task RunAsync(
+        WorkerOptions options,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default);
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerEnvelopeValidator.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+using System;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+internal static class WorkerEnvelopeValidator
+{
+    public static void Validate(
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options)
+    {
+        if (envelope.ProtocolVersion != options.ProtocolVersion)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.ProtocolVersionMismatch,
+                $"Worker envelope protocol version {envelope.ProtocolVersion} does not match expected version {options.ProtocolVersion}.");
+        }
+
+        if (!string.Equals(envelope.SessionId, options.SessionId, StringComparison.Ordinal))
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.SessionMismatch,
+                "Worker envelope session id does not match the owning worker session.");
+        }
+
+        if (envelope.BodyCase == WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.None)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidEnvelope,
+                "Worker envelope must include a typed body.");
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public enum WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode
+{
+    Unknown = 0,
+    InvalidConfiguration = 1,
+    EndOfStream = 2,
+    MalformedLength = 3,
+    MessageTooLarge = 4,
+    InvalidEnvelope = 5,
+    ProtocolVersionMismatch = 6,
+    SessionMismatch = 7,
+    NonceMismatch = 8,
+    UnexpectedEnvelopeBody = 9,
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerFrameProtocolException.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+using System;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerFrameProtocolException : Exception
+{
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+        WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message)
+        : base(message)
+    {
+        ErrorCode = errorCode;
+    }
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+        WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message,
+        Exception innerException)
+        : base(message, innerException)
+    {
+        ErrorCode = errorCode;
+    }
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode ErrorCode { get; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerFrameProtocolOptions.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+using System;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerFrameProtocolOptions
+{
+    public const int DefaultMaxMessageBytes = 16 * 1024 * 1024;
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(WorkerOptions options)
+        : this(
+            options?.SessionId ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(options)),
+            options.ProtocolVersion,
+            options.Nonce,
+            DefaultMaxMessageBytes)
+    {
+    }
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(
+        string sessionId,
+        uint protocolVersion,
+        string nonce)
+        : this(
+            sessionId,
+            protocolVersion,
+            nonce,
+            DefaultMaxMessageBytes)
+    {
+    }
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(
+        string sessionId,
+        uint protocolVersion,
+        string nonce,
+        int maxMessageBytes)
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(sessionId))
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidConfiguration,
+                "Worker frame protocol requires a session id.");
+        }
+
+        if (protocolVersion == 0)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidConfiguration,
+                "Worker frame protocol requires a non-zero protocol version.");
+        }
+
+        if (protocolVersion != GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.ProtocolVersionMismatch,
+                $"Worker frame protocol version {protocolVersion} is not supported.");
+        }
+
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(nonce))
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidConfiguration,
+                "Worker frame protocol requires a nonce.");
+        }
+
+        if (maxMessageBytes <= 0)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidConfiguration,
+                "Worker frame protocol max message size must be greater than zero.");
+        }
+
+        SessionId = sessionId;
+        ProtocolVersion = protocolVersion;
+        Nonce = nonce;
+        MaxMessageBytes = maxMessageBytes;
+    }
+
+    public string SessionId { get; }
+
+    public uint ProtocolVersion { get; }
+
+    public string Nonce { get; }
+
+    public int MaxMessageBytes { get; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerFrameReader.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Google.Protobuf;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerFrameReader
+{
+    private readonly WorkerFrameProtocolOptions _options;
+    private readonly Stream _stream;
+
+    public WorkerFrameReader(
+        Stream stream,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options)
+    {
+        _stream = stream ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(stream));
+        _options = options ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(options));
+    }
+
+    public async Task<WorkerEnvelope> ReadAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        byte[] lengthPrefix = new byte[sizeof(uint)];
+        await ReadExactlyOrThrowAsync(lengthPrefix, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        uint payloadLength = ReadUInt32LittleEndian(lengthPrefix);
+        if (payloadLength == 0)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.MalformedLength,
+                "Worker frame payload length must be greater than zero.");
+        }
+
+        if (payloadLength > _options.MaxMessageBytes)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.MessageTooLarge,
+                $"Worker frame payload length {payloadLength} exceeds the configured maximum of {_options.MaxMessageBytes} bytes.");
+        }
+
+        byte[] payload = new byte[payloadLength];
+        await ReadExactlyOrThrowAsync(payload, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope;
+        try
+        {
+            envelope = WorkerEnvelope.Parser.ParseFrom(payload);
+        }
+        catch (InvalidProtocolBufferException exception)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidEnvelope,
+                "Worker frame payload is not a valid WorkerEnvelope protobuf message.",
+                exception);
+        }
+
+        WorkerEnvelopeValidator.Validate(envelope, _options);
+
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private static uint ReadUInt32LittleEndian(byte[] buffer)
+    {
+        return (uint)buffer[0]
+            | ((uint)buffer[1] << 8)
+            | ((uint)buffer[2] << 16)
+            | ((uint)buffer[3] << 24);
+    }
+
+    private async Task ReadExactlyOrThrowAsync(
+        byte[] buffer,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        int offset = 0;
+        while (offset < buffer.Length)
+        {
+            int bytesRead = await _stream
+                .ReadAsync(buffer, offset, buffer.Length - offset, cancellationToken)
+                .ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+            if (bytesRead == 0)
+            {
+                throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                    WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.EndOfStream,
+                    "Worker frame ended before the expected number of bytes were read.");
+            }
+
+            offset += bytesRead;
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerFrameWriter.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Google.Protobuf;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerFrameWriter
+{
+    private readonly WorkerFrameProtocolOptions _options;
+    private readonly SemaphoreSlim _writeLock = new(1, 1);
+    private readonly Stream _stream;
+
+    public WorkerFrameWriter(
+        Stream stream,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options)
+    {
+        _stream = stream ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(stream));
+        _options = options ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(options));
+    }
+
+    public async Task WriteAsync(
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        if (envelope is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(envelope));
+        }
+
+        WorkerEnvelopeValidator.Validate(envelope, _options);
+
+        int payloadLength = envelope.CalculateSize();
+        if (payloadLength == 0)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidEnvelope,
+                "Worker envelope cannot serialize to an empty payload.");
+        }
+
+        if (payloadLength > _options.MaxMessageBytes)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.MessageTooLarge,
+                $"Worker envelope payload length {payloadLength} exceeds the configured maximum of {_options.MaxMessageBytes} bytes.");
+        }
+
+        byte[] payload = envelope.ToByteArray();
+        byte[] lengthPrefix = new byte[sizeof(uint)];
+        WriteUInt32LittleEndian(lengthPrefix, (uint)payloadLength);
+
+        await _writeLock.WaitAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        try
+        {
+            await _stream.WriteAsync(lengthPrefix, 0, lengthPrefix.Length, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            await _stream.WriteAsync(payload, 0, payload.Length, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            await _stream.FlushAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            _writeLock.Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void WriteUInt32LittleEndian(
+        byte[] buffer,
+        uint value)
+    {
+        buffer[0] = (byte)value;
+        buffer[1] = (byte)(value >> 8);
+        buffer[2] = (byte)(value >> 16);
+        buffer[3] = (byte)(value >> 24);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerPipeClient.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+using System;
+using System.IO.Pipes;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerPipeClient : IWorkerPipeClient
+{
+    public const int DefaultConnectTimeoutMilliseconds = 30000;
+
+    private readonly int _connectTimeoutMilliseconds;
+
+    public WorkerPipeClient()
+        : this(DefaultConnectTimeoutMilliseconds)
+    {
+    }
+
+    public WorkerPipeClient(int connectTimeoutMilliseconds)
+    {
+        if (connectTimeoutMilliseconds <= 0)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(
+                nameof(connectTimeoutMilliseconds),
+                "Worker pipe connect timeout must be greater than zero.");
+        }
+
+        _connectTimeoutMilliseconds = connectTimeoutMilliseconds;
+    }
+
+    public async Task RunAsync(
+        WorkerOptions options,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        if (options is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(options));
+        }
+
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions frameOptions = new(options);
+
+        using NamedPipeClientStream pipe = new(
+            ".",
+            options.PipeName,
+            PipeDirection.InOut,
+            PipeOptions.Asynchronous);
+
+        await ConnectAsync(pipe, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        WorkerPipeSession session = new(pipe, frameOptions);
+        await session.CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+    }
+
+    private Task ConnectAsync(
+        NamedPipeClientStream pipe,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        return Task.Run(
+            () =>
+            {
+                cancellationToken.ThrowIfCancellationRequested();
+                pipe.Connect(_connectTimeoutMilliseconds);
+            },
+            cancellationToken);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerPipeSession.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,218 @@
+using System;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerPipeSession
+{
+    private readonly WorkerFrameProtocolOptions _options;
+    private readonly Func<int> _processIdProvider;
+    private readonly WorkerFrameReader _reader;
+    private readonly WorkerFrameWriter _writer;
+    private long _nextSequence;
+
+    public WorkerPipeSession(
+        Stream stream,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options)
+        : this(
+            new WorkerFrameReader(stream, options),
+            new WorkerFrameWriter(stream, options),
+            options,
+            () => Process.GetCurrentProcess().Id)
+    {
+    }
+
+    public WorkerPipeSession(
+        WorkerFrameReader reader,
+        WorkerFrameWriter writer,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options,
+        Func<int> processIdProvider)
+    {
+        _reader = reader ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(reader));
+        _writer = writer ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(writer));
+        _options = options ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(options));
+        _processIdProvider = processIdProvider ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(processIdProvider));
+    }
+
+    public Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        return CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(_ => Task.CompletedTask, cancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    public async Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(
+        Func<CancellationToken, Task> initializeMxAccessAsync,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        if (initializeMxAccessAsync is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(initializeMxAccessAsync));
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            WorkerEnvelope envelope = await _reader.ReadAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            ValidateGatewayHello(envelope);
+
+            await WriteWorkerHelloAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            await initializeMxAccessAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            await WriteWorkerReadyAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+        catch (WorkerFrameProtocolException exception)
+        {
+            await TryWriteFaultAsync(exception, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            throw;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void ValidateGatewayHello(WorkerEnvelope envelope)
+    {
+        if (envelope.BodyCase != WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.GatewayHello)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.UnexpectedEnvelopeBody,
+                "Worker expected GatewayHello during startup handshake.");
+        }
+
+        GatewayHello gatewayHello = envelope.GatewayHello;
+        if (gatewayHello.SupportedProtocolVersion != _options.ProtocolVersion)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.ProtocolVersionMismatch,
+                $"GatewayHello supported protocol version {gatewayHello.SupportedProtocolVersion} does not match expected version {_options.ProtocolVersion}.");
+        }
+
+        if (!string.Equals(gatewayHello.Nonce, _options.Nonce, StringComparison.Ordinal))
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.NonceMismatch,
+                "GatewayHello nonce does not match the worker launch nonce.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private Task WriteWorkerHelloAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        return _writer.WriteAsync(
+            CreateEnvelope(new WorkerHello
+            {
+                ProtocolVersion = _options.ProtocolVersion,
+                Nonce = _options.Nonce,
+                WorkerProcessId = _processIdProvider(),
+                WorkerVersion = typeof(WorkerPipeSession).Assembly.GetName().Version?.ToString() ?? string.Empty,
+            }),
+            cancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    private Task WriteWorkerReadyAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        return _writer.WriteAsync(
+            CreateEnvelope(new WorkerReady
+            {
+                WorkerProcessId = _processIdProvider(),
+                MxaccessProgid = MxAccessInteropInfo.ProgId,
+                MxaccessClsid = MxAccessInteropInfo.Clsid,
+                ReadyTimestamp = Timestamp.FromDateTime(DateTime.UtcNow),
+            }),
+            cancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    private async Task TryWriteFaultAsync(
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            await _writer
+                .WriteAsync(CreateEnvelope(CreateFault(exception)), cancellationToken)
+                .ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+        catch (Exception faultWriteException) when (
+            faultWriteException is IOException
+            || faultWriteException is ObjectDisposedException
+            || faultWriteException is WorkerFrameProtocolException)
+        {
+            // The original protocol failure is the actionable error.
+        }
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateEnvelope(WorkerHello hello)
+    {
+        return CreateBaseEnvelope(hello);
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateEnvelope(WorkerReady ready)
+    {
+        return CreateBaseEnvelope(ready);
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateEnvelope(WorkerFault fault)
+    {
+        return CreateBaseEnvelope(fault);
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateBaseEnvelope(WorkerHello body)
+    {
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = CreateBaseEnvelope();
+        envelope.WorkerHello = body;
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateBaseEnvelope(WorkerReady body)
+    {
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = CreateBaseEnvelope();
+        envelope.WorkerReady = body;
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateBaseEnvelope(WorkerFault body)
+    {
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = CreateBaseEnvelope();
+        envelope.WorkerFault = body;
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateBaseEnvelope()
+    {
+        return new WorkerEnvelope
+        {
+            ProtocolVersion = _options.ProtocolVersion,
+            SessionId = _options.SessionId,
+            Sequence = NextSequence(),
+        };
+    }
+
+    private ulong NextSequence()
+    {
+        return unchecked((ulong)Interlocked.Increment(ref _nextSequence));
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerFault CreateFault(WorkerFrameProtocolException exception)
+    {
+        return new WorkerFault
+        {
+            Category = MapFaultCategory(exception.ErrorCode),
+            ExceptionType = exception.GetType().FullName ?? string.Empty,
+            DiagnosticMessage = exception.Message,
+            ProtocolStatus = new ProtocolStatus
+            {
+                Code = ProtocolStatusCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                Message = exception.Message,
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerFaultCategory MapFaultCategory(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode errorCode)
+    {
+        return errorCode switch
+        {
+            WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.ProtocolVersionMismatch => WorkerFaultCategory.ProtocolMismatch,
+            WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.EndOfStream => WorkerFaultCategory.PipeDisconnected,
+            _ => WorkerFaultCategory.ProtocolViolation,
+        };
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Sta/IStaComApartmentInitializer.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+public interface IStaComApartmentInitializer
+{
+    void Initialize();
+
+    void Uninitialize();
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Sta/IStaWorkItem.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+internal interface IStaWorkItem
+{
+    void CancelBeforeExecution();
+
+    void Execute();
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Sta/StaComApartmentInitializer.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+using System;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+public sealed class StaComApartmentInitializer : IStaComApartmentInitializer
+{
+    private const uint CoInitializeApartmentThreaded = 0x2;
+    private const int SOk = 0;
+    private const int SFalse = 1;
+
+    public void Initialize()
+    {
+        int hresult = CoInitializeEx(IntPtr.Zero, CoInitializeApartmentThreaded);
+        if (hresult != SOk && hresult != SFalse)
+        {
+            throw new COMException("Failed to initialize the worker STA COM apartment.", hresult);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void Uninitialize()
+    {
+        CoUninitialize();
+    }
+
+    [DllImport("ole32.dll")]
+    private static extern int CoInitializeEx(IntPtr reserved, uint coInit);
+
+    [DllImport("ole32.dll")]
+    private static extern void CoUninitialize();
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Sta/StaMessagePump.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+using System;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Threading;
+using Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+public sealed class StaMessagePump
+{
+    private const uint Infinite = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+    private const uint MsgWaitFailed = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+    private const uint MwmoInputAvailable = 0x0004;
+    private const uint PmRemove = 0x0001;
+    private const uint QsAllInput = 0x04FF;
+
+    public void WaitForWorkOrMessages(WaitHandle commandWakeEvent, TimeSpan timeout)
+    {
+        if (commandWakeEvent is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(commandWakeEvent));
+        }
+
+        uint timeoutMilliseconds = ToTimeoutMilliseconds(timeout);
+
+        SafeWaitHandle safeHandle = commandWakeEvent.SafeWaitHandle;
+        IntPtr[] handles = [safeHandle.DangerousGetHandle()];
+        uint result = MsgWaitForMultipleObjectsEx(
+            (uint)handles.Length,
+            handles,
+            timeoutMilliseconds,
+            QsAllInput,
+            MwmoInputAvailable);
+
+        if (result == MsgWaitFailed)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                "The worker STA message pump failed while waiting for command work or Windows messages.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    public int PumpPendingMessages()
+    {
+        int pumpedMessages = 0;
+
+        while (PeekMessage(out NativeMessage message, IntPtr.Zero, 0, 0, PmRemove))
+        {
+            TranslateMessage(ref message);
+            DispatchMessage(ref message);
+            pumpedMessages++;
+        }
+
+        return pumpedMessages;
+    }
+
+    private static uint ToTimeoutMilliseconds(TimeSpan timeout)
+    {
+        if (timeout == Timeout.InfiniteTimeSpan)
+        {
+            return Infinite;
+        }
+
+        if (timeout <= TimeSpan.Zero)
+        {
+            return 0;
+        }
+
+        return timeout.TotalMilliseconds >= uint.MaxValue
+            ? uint.MaxValue - 1
+            : (uint)Math.Ceiling(timeout.TotalMilliseconds);
+    }
+
+    [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
+    private static extern uint MsgWaitForMultipleObjectsEx(
+        uint count,
+        IntPtr[] handles,
+        uint milliseconds,
+        uint wakeMask,
+        uint flags);
+
+    [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
+    private static extern bool PeekMessage(
+        out NativeMessage message,
+        IntPtr windowHandle,
+        uint messageFilterMin,
+        uint messageFilterMax,
+        uint removeMessage);
+
+    [DllImport("user32.dll")]
+    private static extern bool TranslateMessage(ref NativeMessage message);
+
+    [DllImport("user32.dll")]
+    private static extern IntPtr DispatchMessage(ref NativeMessage message);
+
+    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
+    private struct NativeMessage
+    {
+        public IntPtr WindowHandle;
+        public uint Message;
+        public UIntPtr WParam;
+        public IntPtr LParam;
+        public uint Time;
+        public NativePoint Point;
+    }
+
+    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
+    private struct NativePoint
+    {
+        public int X;
+        public int Y;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Sta/StaRuntime.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,267 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Concurrent;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+public sealed class StaRuntime : IDisposable
+{
+    private readonly IStaComApartmentInitializer comApartmentInitializer;
+    private readonly StaMessagePump messagePump;
+    private readonly ConcurrentQueue<IStaWorkItem> commandQueue = new();
+    private readonly AutoResetEvent commandWakeEvent = new(false);
+    private readonly ManualResetEventSlim startedEvent = new(false);
+    private readonly ManualResetEventSlim stoppedEvent = new(false);
+    private readonly object gate = new();
+    private readonly Thread staThread;
+    private readonly TimeSpan idlePumpInterval;
+    private bool disposed;
+    private bool startRequested;
+    private bool shutdownRequested;
+    private Exception? startupException;
+    private long lastActivityUtcTicks;
+    private bool comInitialized;
+
+    public StaRuntime()
+        : this(new StaComApartmentInitializer(), new StaMessagePump(), TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(50))
+    {
+    }
+
+    public StaRuntime(
+        IStaComApartmentInitializer comApartmentInitializer,
+        StaMessagePump messagePump,
+        TimeSpan idlePumpInterval)
+    {
+        this.comApartmentInitializer = comApartmentInitializer
+            ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(comApartmentInitializer));
+        this.messagePump = messagePump ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(messagePump));
+
+        if (idlePumpInterval <= TimeSpan.Zero)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(
+                nameof(idlePumpInterval),
+                "The idle pump interval must be greater than zero.");
+        }
+
+        this.idlePumpInterval = idlePumpInterval;
+        lastActivityUtcTicks = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow.UtcTicks;
+        staThread = new Thread(ThreadMain)
+        {
+            IsBackground = true,
+            Name = "MxGateway.Worker.STA"
+        };
+        staThread.SetApartmentState(ApartmentState.STA);
+    }
+
+    public int? StaThreadId { get; private set; }
+
+    public DateTimeOffset LastActivityUtc =>
+        new(new DateTime(Volatile.Read(ref lastActivityUtcTicks), DateTimeKind.Utc));
+
+    public bool IsRunning => startedEvent.IsSet && !stoppedEvent.IsSet;
+
+    public void Start()
+    {
+        ThrowIfDisposed();
+
+        lock (gate)
+        {
+            if (shutdownRequested)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("The worker STA runtime is shutting down.");
+            }
+
+            if (!startRequested)
+            {
+                startRequested = true;
+                staThread.Start();
+            }
+        }
+
+        startedEvent.Wait();
+        if (startupException is not null)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                "The worker STA runtime failed to initialize.",
+                startupException);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public Task InvokeAsync(Action command, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        if (command is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(command));
+        }
+
+        return InvokeAsync(
+            () =>
+            {
+                command();
+                return true;
+            },
+            cancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    public Task<T> InvokeAsync<T>(Func<T> command, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        if (command is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(command));
+        }
+
+        ThrowIfDisposed();
+
+        if (cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+        {
+            return Task.FromCanceled<T>(cancellationToken);
+        }
+
+        StaWorkItem<T> workItem = new(command, cancellationToken);
+
+        lock (gate)
+        {
+            if (shutdownRequested)
+            {
+                return Task.FromException<T>(
+                    new InvalidOperationException("The worker STA runtime is shutting down."));
+            }
+
+            commandQueue.Enqueue(workItem);
+        }
+
+        commandWakeEvent.Set();
+        return workItem.Task;
+    }
+
+    public bool Shutdown(TimeSpan timeout)
+    {
+        if (timeout < TimeSpan.Zero && timeout != Timeout.InfiniteTimeSpan)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(timeout));
+        }
+
+        lock (gate)
+        {
+            shutdownRequested = true;
+        }
+
+        commandWakeEvent.Set();
+
+        if (!startedEvent.IsSet && !staThread.IsAlive)
+        {
+            CancelQueuedCommands();
+            stoppedEvent.Set();
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        bool stopped = stoppedEvent.Wait(timeout);
+        if (stopped)
+        {
+            CancelQueuedCommands();
+        }
+
+        return stopped;
+    }
+
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        if (disposed)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        bool stopped = Shutdown(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5));
+        if (stopped)
+        {
+            commandWakeEvent.Dispose();
+            startedEvent.Dispose();
+            stoppedEvent.Dispose();
+        }
+
+        disposed = true;
+    }
+
+    private void ThreadMain()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            StaThreadId = Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId;
+            comApartmentInitializer.Initialize();
+            comInitialized = true;
+            MarkActivity();
+            startedEvent.Set();
+
+            while (!IsShutdownRequested())
+            {
+                ProcessQueuedCommands();
+                messagePump.WaitForWorkOrMessages(commandWakeEvent, idlePumpInterval);
+                messagePump.PumpPendingMessages();
+                MarkActivity();
+            }
+
+            ProcessQueuedCommands();
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            startupException = exception;
+            startedEvent.Set();
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            CancelQueuedCommands();
+            try
+            {
+                if (comInitialized)
+                {
+                    comApartmentInitializer.Uninitialize();
+                }
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                MarkActivity();
+                stoppedEvent.Set();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void ProcessQueuedCommands()
+    {
+        while (commandQueue.TryDequeue(out IStaWorkItem? workItem))
+        {
+            MarkActivity();
+            workItem.Execute();
+            MarkActivity();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void CancelQueuedCommands()
+    {
+        while (commandQueue.TryDequeue(out IStaWorkItem? workItem))
+        {
+            workItem.CancelBeforeExecution();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private bool IsShutdownRequested()
+    {
+        lock (gate)
+        {
+            return shutdownRequested;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void MarkActivity()
+    {
+        Volatile.Write(ref lastActivityUtcTicks, DateTimeOffset.UtcNow.UtcTicks);
+    }
+
+    private void ThrowIfDisposed()
+    {
+        if (disposed)
+        {
+            throw new ObjectDisposedException(nameof(StaRuntime));
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Sta/StaWorkItem.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+using System;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+internal sealed class StaWorkItem<T> : IStaWorkItem
+{
+    private readonly Func<T> command;
+    private readonly CancellationToken cancellationToken;
+    private readonly CancellationTokenRegistration cancellationRegistration;
+    private int started;
+
+    public StaWorkItem(Func<T> command, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        this.command = command ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(command));
+        this.cancellationToken = cancellationToken;
+        Completion = new TaskCompletionSource<T>(TaskCreationOptions.RunContinuationsAsynchronously);
+
+        if (cancellationToken.CanBeCanceled)
+        {
+            cancellationRegistration = cancellationToken.Register(
+                () =>
+                {
+                    if (Interlocked.CompareExchange(ref started, 1, 0) == 0)
+                    {
+                        Completion.TrySetCanceled(cancellationToken);
+                    }
+                });
+        }
+    }
+
+    public Task<T> Task => Completion.Task;
+
+    private TaskCompletionSource<T> Completion { get; }
+
+    public void CancelBeforeExecution()
+    {
+        if (Interlocked.CompareExchange(ref started, 1, 0) == 0)
+        {
+            Completion.TrySetCanceled(cancellationToken);
+            cancellationRegistration.Dispose();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void Execute()
+    {
+        if (Interlocked.CompareExchange(ref started, 1, 0) != 0)
+        {
+            cancellationRegistration.Dispose();
+            return;
+        }
+
+        cancellationRegistration.Dispose();
+
+        if (cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+        {
+            Completion.TrySetCanceled(cancellationToken);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            Completion.TrySetResult(command());
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            Completion.TrySetException(exception);
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/WorkerApplication.cs

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
 using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
 
 namespace MxGateway.Worker;
 
@@ -11,13 +13,27 @@ public static class WorkerApplication
         return Run(
             args,
             new EnvironmentVariableWorkerEnvironment(),
-            new WorkerConsoleLogger(Console.Error));
+            new WorkerConsoleLogger(Console.Error),
+            new WorkerPipeClient());
     }
 
     public static int Run(
         string[] args,
         IWorkerEnvironment environment,
         IWorkerLogger logger)
+    {
+        return Run(
+            args,
+            environment,
+            logger,
+            new WorkerPipeClient());
+    }
+
+    public static int Run(
+        string[] args,
+        IWorkerEnvironment environment,
+        IWorkerLogger logger,
+        IWorkerPipeClient pipeClient)
     {
         if (args is null)
         {
@@ -34,6 +50,11 @@ public static class WorkerApplication
             throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(logger));
         }
 
+        if (pipeClient is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(pipeClient));
+        }
+
         try
         {
             WorkerOptionsParser parser = new(environment);
@@ -61,8 +82,38 @@ public static class WorkerApplication
                 ["nonce"] = options.Nonce,
             });
 
+            pipeClient.RunAsync(options).GetAwaiter().GetResult();
+
+            logger.Information("WorkerPipeHandshakeSucceeded", new Dictionary<string, object?>
+            {
+                ["session_id"] = options.SessionId,
+                ["pipe_name"] = options.PipeName,
+                ["protocol_version"] = options.ProtocolVersion,
+            });
+
             return (int)WorkerExitCode.Success;
         }
+        catch (WorkerFrameProtocolException exception)
+        {
+            logger.Error("WorkerPipeProtocolFailure", new Dictionary<string, object?>
+            {
+                ["exit_code"] = WorkerExitCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                ["error_code"] = exception.ErrorCode,
+                ["exception_type"] = exception.GetType().FullName,
+            });
+
+            return (int)WorkerExitCode.ProtocolViolation;
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception) when (exception is IOException or TimeoutException)
+        {
+            logger.Error("WorkerPipeConnectionFailed", new Dictionary<string, object?>
+            {
+                ["exit_code"] = WorkerExitCode.PipeConnectionFailed,
+                ["exception_type"] = exception.GetType().FullName,
+            });
+
+            return (int)WorkerExitCode.PipeConnectionFailed;
+        }
         catch (Exception exception)
         {
             logger.Error("WorkerBootstrapUnexpectedFailure", new Dictionary<string, object?>