diff --git a/src/coordinator/coordinator_worker.hpp b/src/coordinator/coordinator_worker.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..46bc546cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/coordinator/coordinator_worker.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+// Copyright 2022 Memgraph Ltd.
+//
+// Use of this software is governed by the Business Source License
+// included in the file licenses/BSL.txt; by using this file, you agree to be bound by the terms of the Business Source
+// License, and you may not use this file except in compliance with the Business Source License.
+//
+// As of the Change Date specified in that file, in accordance with
+// the Business Source License, use of this software will be governed
+// by the Apache License, Version 2.0, included in the file
+// licenses/APL.txt.
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <chrono>
+#include <deque>
+#include <memory>
+#include <queue>
+#include <variant>
+
+#include "coordinator/coordinator.hpp"
+#include "coordinator/coordinator_rsm.hpp"
+#include "coordinator/shard_map.hpp"
+#include "io/address.hpp"
+#include "io/future.hpp"
+#include "io/messages.hpp"
+#include "io/rsm/raft.hpp"
+#include "io/time.hpp"
+#include "io/transport.hpp"
+#include "query/v2/requests.hpp"
+
+namespace memgraph::coordinator::coordinator_worker {
+
+/// Obligations:
+/// * ShutDown
+/// * Cron
+/// * RouteMessage
+
+using coordinator::Coordinator;
+using coordinator::CoordinatorRsm;
+using io::Address;
+using io::RequestId;
+using io::Time;
+using io::messages::CoordinatorMessages;
+using msgs::ReadRequests;
+using msgs::ReadResponses;
+using msgs::WriteRequests;
+using msgs::WriteResponses;
+
+struct ShutDown {};
+
+struct Cron {};
+
+struct RouteMessage {
+  CoordinatorMessages message;
+  RequestId request_id;
+  Address to;
+  Address from;
+};
+
+using Message = std::variant<RouteMessage, Cron, ShutDown>;
+
+struct QueueInner {
+  std::mutex mu{};
+  std::condition_variable cv;
+  // TODO(tyler) handle simulator communication std::shared_ptr<std::atomic<int>> blocked;
+
+  // TODO(tyler) investigate using a priority queue that prioritizes messages in a way that
+  // improves overall QoS. For example, maybe we want to schedule raft Append messages
+  // ahead of Read messages or generally writes before reads for lowering the load on the
+  // overall system faster etc... When we do this, we need to make sure to avoid
+  // starvation by sometimes randomizing priorities, rather than following a strict
+  // prioritization.
+  std::deque<Message> queue;
+};
+
+/// There are two reasons to implement our own Queue instead of using
+/// one off-the-shelf:
+/// 1. we will need to know in the simulator when all threads are waiting
+/// 2. we will want to implement our own priority queue within this for QoS
+class Queue {
+  std::shared_ptr<QueueInner> inner_ = std::make_shared<QueueInner>();
+
+ public:
+  void Push(Message &&message) {
+    {
+      MG_ASSERT(inner_.use_count() > 0);
+      std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(inner_->mu);
+
+      inner_->queue.emplace_back(std::move(message));
+    }  // lock dropped before notifying condition variable
+
+    inner_->cv.notify_all();
+  }
+
+  Message Pop() {
+    MG_ASSERT(inner_.use_count() > 0);
+    std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(inner_->mu);
+
+    while (inner_->queue.empty()) {
+      inner_->cv.wait(lock);
+    }
+
+    Message message = std::move(inner_->queue.front());
+    inner_->queue.pop_front();
+
+    return message;
+  }
+};
+
+/// A CoordinatorWorker owns Raft<CoordinatorRsm> instances. receives messages from the MachineManager.
+template <typename IoImpl>
+class CoordinatorWorker {
+  io::Io<IoImpl> io_;
+  Queue queue_;
+  CoordinatorRsm<IoImpl> coordinator_;
+
+  bool Process(ShutDown && /*shut_down*/) { return false; }
+
+  bool Process(Cron && /* cron */) {
+    coordinator_.Cron();
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  bool Process(RouteMessage &&route_message) {
+    coordinator_.Handle(std::move(route_message.message), route_message.request_id, route_message.from);
+
+    return true;
+  }
+
+ public:
+  CoordinatorWorker(io::Io<IoImpl> io, Queue queue, Coordinator coordinator)
+      : io_(std::move(io)),
+        queue_(std::move(queue)),
+        coordinator_{std::move(io_.ForkLocal()), {}, std::move(coordinator)} {}
+
+  CoordinatorWorker(CoordinatorWorker &&) noexcept = default;
+  CoordinatorWorker &operator=(CoordinatorWorker &&) noexcept = default;
+  CoordinatorWorker(const CoordinatorWorker &) = delete;
+  CoordinatorWorker &operator=(const CoordinatorWorker &) = delete;
+  ~CoordinatorWorker() = default;
+
+  void Run() {
+    while (true) {
+      Message message = queue_.Pop();
+
+      const bool should_continue = std::visit(
+          [this](auto &&msg) { return this->Process(std::forward<decltype(msg)>(msg)); }, std::move(message));
+
+      if (!should_continue) {
+        return;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+};
+
+}  // namespace memgraph::coordinator::coordinator_worker
diff --git a/src/io/local_transport/local_transport.hpp b/src/io/local_transport/local_transport.hpp
index 4fc6a4361..258df6385 100644
--- a/src/io/local_transport/local_transport.hpp
+++ b/src/io/local_transport/local_transport.hpp
@@ -31,14 +31,9 @@ class LocalTransport {
       : local_transport_handle_(std::move(local_transport_handle)) {}
 
   template <Message RequestT, Message ResponseT>
-  ResponseFuture<ResponseT> Request(Address to_address, Address from_address, RequestId request_id, RequestT request,
-                                    Duration timeout) {
-    auto [future, promise] = memgraph::io::FuturePromisePair<ResponseResult<ResponseT>>();
-
-    local_transport_handle_->SubmitRequest(to_address, from_address, request_id, std::move(request), timeout,
-                                           std::move(promise));
-
-    return std::move(future);
+  ResponseFuture<ResponseT> Request(Address to_address, Address from_address, RequestT request, Duration timeout) {
+    return local_transport_handle_->template SubmitRequest<RequestT, ResponseT>(to_address, from_address,
+                                                                                std::move(request), timeout);
   }
 
   template <Message... Ms>
@@ -61,8 +56,6 @@ class LocalTransport {
     return distrib(rng);
   }
 
-  std::unordered_map<std::string, LatencyHistogramSummary> ResponseLatencies() {
-    return local_transport_handle_->ResponseLatencies();
-  }
+  LatencyHistogramSummaries ResponseLatencies() { return local_transport_handle_->ResponseLatencies(); }
 };
 };  // namespace memgraph::io::local_transport
diff --git a/src/io/local_transport/local_transport_handle.hpp b/src/io/local_transport/local_transport_handle.hpp
index ad257c926..2303ae735 100644
--- a/src/io/local_transport/local_transport_handle.hpp
+++ b/src/io/local_transport/local_transport_handle.hpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ class LocalTransportHandle {
   mutable std::condition_variable cv_;
   bool should_shut_down_ = false;
   MessageHistogramCollector histograms_;
+  RequestId request_id_counter_ = 0;
 
   // the responses to requests that are being waited on
   std::map<PromiseKey, DeadlineAndOpaquePromise> promises_;
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ class LocalTransportHandle {
     return should_shut_down_;
   }
 
-  std::unordered_map<std::string, LatencyHistogramSummary> ResponseLatencies() {
+  LatencyHistogramSummaries ResponseLatencies() {
     std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mu_);
     return histograms_.ResponseLatencies();
   }
@@ -113,8 +114,7 @@ class LocalTransportHandle {
                                  .message = std::move(message_any),
                                  .type_info = type_info};
 
-    PromiseKey promise_key{
-        .requester_address = to_address, .request_id = opaque_message.request_id, .replier_address = from_address};
+    PromiseKey promise_key{.requester_address = to_address, .request_id = opaque_message.request_id};
 
     {
       std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mu_);
@@ -139,8 +139,10 @@ class LocalTransportHandle {
   }
 
   template <Message RequestT, Message ResponseT>
-  void SubmitRequest(Address to_address, Address from_address, RequestId request_id, RequestT &&request,
-                     Duration timeout, ResponsePromise<ResponseT> promise) {
+  ResponseFuture<ResponseT> SubmitRequest(Address to_address, Address from_address, RequestT &&request,
+                                          Duration timeout) {
+    auto [future, promise] = memgraph::io::FuturePromisePair<ResponseResult<ResponseT>>();
+
     const bool port_matches = to_address.last_known_port == from_address.last_known_port;
     const bool ip_matches = to_address.last_known_ip == from_address.last_known_ip;
 
@@ -149,17 +151,22 @@ class LocalTransportHandle {
     const auto now = Now();
     const Time deadline = now + timeout;
 
+    RequestId request_id = 0;
     {
       std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mu_);
 
-      PromiseKey promise_key{
-          .requester_address = from_address, .request_id = request_id, .replier_address = to_address};
+      request_id = ++request_id_counter_;
+      PromiseKey promise_key{.requester_address = from_address, .request_id = request_id};
       OpaquePromise opaque_promise(std::move(promise).ToUnique());
       DeadlineAndOpaquePromise dop{.requested_at = now, .deadline = deadline, .promise = std::move(opaque_promise)};
+
+      MG_ASSERT(!promises_.contains(promise_key));
       promises_.emplace(std::move(promise_key), std::move(dop));
     }  // lock dropped
 
     Send(to_address, from_address, request_id, std::forward<RequestT>(request));
+
+    return std::move(future);
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/src/io/message_conversion.hpp b/src/io/message_conversion.hpp
index 11c045123..1463abc06 100644
--- a/src/io/message_conversion.hpp
+++ b/src/io/message_conversion.hpp
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include <boost/core/demangle.hpp>
+
 #include "io/transport.hpp"
 #include "utils/type_info_ref.hpp"
 
@@ -19,9 +21,6 @@ namespace memgraph::io {
 struct PromiseKey {
   Address requester_address;
   uint64_t request_id;
-  // TODO(tyler) possibly remove replier_address from promise key
-  // once we want to support DSR.
-  Address replier_address;
 
  public:
   friend bool operator<(const PromiseKey &lhs, const PromiseKey &rhs) {
@@ -29,11 +28,7 @@ struct PromiseKey {
       return lhs.requester_address < rhs.requester_address;
     }
 
-    if (lhs.request_id != rhs.request_id) {
-      return lhs.request_id < rhs.request_id;
-    }
-
-    return lhs.replier_address < rhs.replier_address;
+    return lhs.request_id < rhs.request_id;
   }
 };
 
@@ -90,6 +85,10 @@ struct OpaqueMessage {
       };
     }
 
+    std::string demangled_name = "\"" + boost::core::demangle(message.type().name()) + "\"";
+    spdlog::error("failed to cast message of type {} to expected request type (probably in Receive argument types)",
+                  demangled_name);
+
     return std::nullopt;
   }
 };
diff --git a/src/io/message_histogram_collector.hpp b/src/io/message_histogram_collector.hpp
index 4c99f7f1f..e663be988 100644
--- a/src/io/message_histogram_collector.hpp
+++ b/src/io/message_histogram_collector.hpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "io/time.hpp"
 #include "utils/histogram.hpp"
 #include "utils/logging.hpp"
+#include "utils/print_helpers.hpp"
 #include "utils/type_info_ref.hpp"
 
 namespace memgraph::io {
@@ -57,6 +58,35 @@ struct LatencyHistogramSummary {
   }
 };
 
+struct LatencyHistogramSummaries {
+  std::unordered_map<std::string, LatencyHistogramSummary> latencies;
+
+  std::string SummaryTable() {
+    std::string output;
+
+    const auto row = [&output](const auto &c1, const auto &c2, const auto &c3, const auto &c4, const auto &c5,
+                               const auto &c6, const auto &c7) {
+      output +=
+          fmt::format("{: >50} | {: >8} | {: >8} | {: >8} | {: >8} | {: >8} | {: >8}\n", c1, c2, c3, c4, c5, c6, c7);
+    };
+    row("name", "count", "min (μs)", "med (μs)", "p99 (μs)", "max (μs)", "sum (ms)");
+
+    for (const auto &[name, histo] : latencies) {
+      row(name, histo.count, histo.p0.count(), histo.p50.count(), histo.p99.count(), histo.p100.count(),
+          histo.sum.count() / 1000);
+    }
+
+    output += "\n";
+    return output;
+  }
+
+  friend std::ostream &operator<<(std::ostream &in, const LatencyHistogramSummaries &histo) {
+    using memgraph::utils::print_helpers::operator<<;
+    in << histo.latencies;
+    return in;
+  }
+};
+
 class MessageHistogramCollector {
   std::unordered_map<utils::TypeInfoRef, utils::Histogram, utils::TypeInfoHasher, utils::TypeInfoEqualTo> histograms_;
 
@@ -66,7 +96,7 @@ class MessageHistogramCollector {
     histo.Measure(duration.count());
   }
 
-  std::unordered_map<std::string, LatencyHistogramSummary> ResponseLatencies() {
+  LatencyHistogramSummaries ResponseLatencies() {
     std::unordered_map<std::string, LatencyHistogramSummary> ret{};
 
     for (const auto &[type_id, histo] : histograms_) {
@@ -90,7 +120,7 @@ class MessageHistogramCollector {
       ret.emplace(demangled_name, latency_histogram_summary);
     }
 
-    return ret;
+    return LatencyHistogramSummaries{.latencies = ret};
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/src/io/rsm/raft.hpp b/src/io/rsm/raft.hpp
index 8d825f9e9..eccbf031b 100644
--- a/src/io/rsm/raft.hpp
+++ b/src/io/rsm/raft.hpp
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 #include <unordered_map>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include <boost/core/demangle.hpp>
+
 #include "io/message_conversion.hpp"
 #include "io/simulator/simulator.hpp"
 #include "io/transport.hpp"
@@ -109,6 +111,16 @@ utils::TypeInfoRef TypeInfoFor(const WriteResponse<WriteReturn> & /* write_respo
   return typeid(WriteReturn);
 }
 
+template <class WriteOperation>
+utils::TypeInfoRef TypeInfoFor(const WriteRequest<WriteOperation> & /* write_request */) {
+  return typeid(WriteOperation);
+}
+
+template <class... WriteOperations>
+utils::TypeInfoRef TypeInfoFor(const WriteRequest<std::variant<WriteOperations...>> &write_request) {
+  return TypeInfoForVariant(write_request.operation);
+}
+
 /// AppendRequest is a raft-level message that the Leader
 /// periodically broadcasts to all Follower peers. This
 /// serves three main roles:
@@ -569,7 +581,7 @@ class Raft {
     const Time now = io_.Now();
     const Duration broadcast_timeout = RandomTimeout(kMinimumBroadcastTimeout, kMaximumBroadcastTimeout);
 
-    if (now - leader.last_broadcast > broadcast_timeout) {
+    if (now > leader.last_broadcast + broadcast_timeout) {
       BroadcastAppendEntries(leader.followers);
       leader.last_broadcast = now;
     }
@@ -918,7 +930,9 @@ class Raft {
   // only leaders actually handle replication requests from clients
   std::optional<Role> Handle(Leader &leader, WriteRequest<WriteOperation> &&req, RequestId request_id,
                              Address from_address) {
-    Log("handling WriteRequest");
+    auto type_info = TypeInfoFor(req);
+    std::string demangled_name = boost::core::demangle(type_info.get().name());
+    Log("handling WriteRequest<" + demangled_name + ">");
 
     // we are the leader. add item to log and send Append to peers
     MG_ASSERT(state_.term >= LastLogTerm());
diff --git a/src/io/simulator/simulator_handle.cpp b/src/io/simulator/simulator_handle.cpp
index d71ecd0a9..74925812e 100644
--- a/src/io/simulator/simulator_handle.cpp
+++ b/src/io/simulator/simulator_handle.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ bool SimulatorHandle::ShouldShutDown() const {
   return should_shut_down_;
 }
 
-std::unordered_map<std::string, LatencyHistogramSummary> SimulatorHandle::ResponseLatencies() {
+LatencyHistogramSummaries SimulatorHandle::ResponseLatencies() {
   std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mu_);
   return histograms_.ResponseLatencies();
 }
@@ -108,9 +108,7 @@ bool SimulatorHandle::MaybeTickSimulator() {
     stats_.dropped_messages++;
   }
 
-  PromiseKey promise_key{.requester_address = to_address,
-                         .request_id = opaque_message.request_id,
-                         .replier_address = opaque_message.from_address};
+  PromiseKey promise_key{.requester_address = to_address, .request_id = opaque_message.request_id};
 
   if (promises_.contains(promise_key)) {
     // complete waiting promise if it's there
diff --git a/src/io/simulator/simulator_handle.hpp b/src/io/simulator/simulator_handle.hpp
index 75bf8fb5e..3420786c7 100644
--- a/src/io/simulator/simulator_handle.hpp
+++ b/src/io/simulator/simulator_handle.hpp
@@ -56,14 +56,14 @@ class SimulatorHandle {
   std::uniform_int_distribution<int> drop_distrib_{0, 99};
   SimulatorConfig config_;
   MessageHistogramCollector histograms_;
+  RequestId request_id_counter_{0};
 
   void TimeoutPromisesPastDeadline() {
     const Time now = cluster_wide_time_microseconds_;
     for (auto it = promises_.begin(); it != promises_.end();) {
       auto &[promise_key, dop] = *it;
       if (dop.deadline < now && config_.perform_timeouts) {
-        spdlog::info("timing out request from requester {} to replier {}.", promise_key.requester_address.ToString(),
-                     promise_key.replier_address.ToString());
+        spdlog::info("timing out request from requester {}.", promise_key.requester_address.ToString());
         std::move(dop).promise.TimeOut();
         it = promises_.erase(it);
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class SimulatorHandle {
   explicit SimulatorHandle(SimulatorConfig config)
       : cluster_wide_time_microseconds_(config.start_time), rng_(config.rng_seed), config_(config) {}
 
-  std::unordered_map<std::string, LatencyHistogramSummary> ResponseLatencies();
+  LatencyHistogramSummaries ResponseLatencies();
 
   ~SimulatorHandle() {
     for (auto it = promises_.begin(); it != promises_.end();) {
@@ -101,12 +101,17 @@ class SimulatorHandle {
   bool ShouldShutDown() const;
 
   template <Message Request, Message Response>
-  void SubmitRequest(Address to_address, Address from_address, RequestId request_id, Request &&request,
-                     Duration timeout, ResponsePromise<Response> &&promise) {
+  ResponseFuture<Response> SubmitRequest(Address to_address, Address from_address, Request &&request, Duration timeout,
+                                         std::function<bool()> &&maybe_tick_simulator) {
     auto type_info = TypeInfoFor(request);
 
+    auto [future, promise] = memgraph::io::FuturePromisePairWithNotifier<ResponseResult<Response>>(
+        std::forward<std::function<bool()>>(maybe_tick_simulator));
+
     std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mu_);
 
+    RequestId request_id = ++request_id_counter_;
+
     const Time deadline = cluster_wide_time_microseconds_ + timeout;
 
     std::any message(request);
@@ -117,19 +122,24 @@ class SimulatorHandle {
                      .type_info = type_info};
     in_flight_.emplace_back(std::make_pair(to_address, std::move(om)));
 
-    PromiseKey promise_key{.requester_address = from_address, .request_id = request_id, .replier_address = to_address};
+    PromiseKey promise_key{.requester_address = from_address, .request_id = request_id};
     OpaquePromise opaque_promise(std::move(promise).ToUnique());
     DeadlineAndOpaquePromise dop{
         .requested_at = cluster_wide_time_microseconds_,
         .deadline = deadline,
         .promise = std::move(opaque_promise),
     };
+
+    MG_ASSERT(!promises_.contains(promise_key));
+
     promises_.emplace(std::move(promise_key), std::move(dop));
 
     stats_.total_messages++;
     stats_.total_requests++;
 
     cv_.notify_all();
+
+    return std::move(future);
   }
 
   template <Message... Ms>
diff --git a/src/io/simulator/simulator_transport.hpp b/src/io/simulator/simulator_transport.hpp
index f1c68230d..5e5a24aa9 100644
--- a/src/io/simulator/simulator_transport.hpp
+++ b/src/io/simulator/simulator_transport.hpp
@@ -33,16 +33,11 @@ class SimulatorTransport {
       : simulator_handle_(simulator_handle), address_(address), rng_(std::mt19937{seed}) {}
 
   template <Message RequestT, Message ResponseT>
-  ResponseFuture<ResponseT> Request(Address to_address, Address from_address, uint64_t request_id, RequestT request,
-                                    Duration timeout) {
+  ResponseFuture<ResponseT> Request(Address to_address, Address from_address, RequestT request, Duration timeout) {
     std::function<bool()> maybe_tick_simulator = [this] { return simulator_handle_->MaybeTickSimulator(); };
-    auto [future, promise] =
-        memgraph::io::FuturePromisePairWithNotifier<ResponseResult<ResponseT>>(maybe_tick_simulator);
 
-    simulator_handle_->SubmitRequest(to_address, from_address, request_id, std::move(request), timeout,
-                                     std::move(promise));
-
-    return std::move(future);
+    return simulator_handle_->template SubmitRequest<RequestT, ResponseT>(to_address, from_address, std::move(request),
+                                                                          timeout, std::move(maybe_tick_simulator));
   }
 
   template <Message... Ms>
@@ -64,8 +59,6 @@ class SimulatorTransport {
     return distrib(rng_);
   }
 
-  std::unordered_map<std::string, LatencyHistogramSummary> ResponseLatencies() {
-    return simulator_handle_->ResponseLatencies();
-  }
+  LatencyHistogramSummaries ResponseLatencies() { return simulator_handle_->ResponseLatencies(); }
 };
 };  // namespace memgraph::io::simulator
diff --git a/src/io/transport.hpp b/src/io/transport.hpp
index a1a337ddb..2abf10af2 100644
--- a/src/io/transport.hpp
+++ b/src/io/transport.hpp
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ template <typename I>
 class Io {
   I implementation_;
   Address address_;
-  RequestId request_id_counter_ = 0;
   Duration default_timeout_ = std::chrono::microseconds{100000};
 
  public:
@@ -84,20 +83,17 @@ class Io {
   /// Issue a request with an explicit timeout in microseconds provided. This tends to be used by clients.
   template <Message RequestT, Message ResponseT>
   ResponseFuture<ResponseT> RequestWithTimeout(Address address, RequestT request, Duration timeout) {
-    const RequestId request_id = ++request_id_counter_;
     const Address from_address = address_;
-    return implementation_.template Request<RequestT, ResponseT>(address, from_address, request_id, request, timeout);
+    return implementation_.template Request<RequestT, ResponseT>(address, from_address, request, timeout);
   }
 
   /// Issue a request that times out after the default timeout. This tends
   /// to be used by clients.
   template <Message RequestT, Message ResponseT>
   ResponseFuture<ResponseT> Request(Address to_address, RequestT request) {
-    const RequestId request_id = ++request_id_counter_;
     const Duration timeout = default_timeout_;
     const Address from_address = address_;
-    return implementation_.template Request<RequestT, ResponseT>(to_address, from_address, request_id,
-                                                                 std::move(request), timeout);
+    return implementation_.template Request<RequestT, ResponseT>(to_address, from_address, std::move(request), timeout);
   }
 
   /// Wait for an explicit number of microseconds for a request of one of the
@@ -143,8 +139,6 @@ class Io {
 
   Io<I> ForkLocal() { return Io(implementation_, address_.ForkUniqueAddress()); }
 
-  std::unordered_map<std::string, LatencyHistogramSummary> ResponseLatencies() {
-    return implementation_.ResponseLatencies();
-  }
+  LatencyHistogramSummaries ResponseLatencies() { return implementation_.ResponseLatencies(); }
 };
 };  // namespace memgraph::io
diff --git a/src/machine_manager/machine_config.hpp b/src/machine_manager/machine_config.hpp
index 6e46d2b83..52711642b 100644
--- a/src/machine_manager/machine_config.hpp
+++ b/src/machine_manager/machine_config.hpp
@@ -11,7 +11,11 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <thread>
+
 #include <boost/asio/ip/tcp.hpp>
+
 #include "io/address.hpp"
 #include "storage/v3/property_value.hpp"
 #include "storage/v3/schemas.hpp"
@@ -37,6 +41,7 @@ struct MachineConfig {
   bool is_query_engine;
   boost::asio::ip::address listen_ip;
   uint16_t listen_port;
+  size_t shard_worker_threads = std::max(static_cast<unsigned int>(1), std::thread::hardware_concurrency());
 };
 
 }  // namespace memgraph::machine_manager
diff --git a/src/machine_manager/machine_manager.hpp b/src/machine_manager/machine_manager.hpp
index fc4d903a4..f9ea8ff2a 100644
--- a/src/machine_manager/machine_manager.hpp
+++ b/src/machine_manager/machine_manager.hpp
@@ -11,39 +11,43 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include <coordinator/coordinator_rsm.hpp>
-#include <io/message_conversion.hpp>
-#include <io/messages.hpp>
-#include <io/rsm/rsm_client.hpp>
-#include <io/time.hpp>
-#include <machine_manager/machine_config.hpp>
-#include <storage/v3/shard_manager.hpp>
+#include "coordinator/coordinator_rsm.hpp"
+#include "coordinator/coordinator_worker.hpp"
+#include "io/message_conversion.hpp"
+#include "io/messages.hpp"
+#include "io/rsm/rsm_client.hpp"
+#include "io/time.hpp"
+#include "machine_manager/machine_config.hpp"
+#include "storage/v3/shard_manager.hpp"
 
 namespace memgraph::machine_manager {
 
-using memgraph::coordinator::Coordinator;
-using memgraph::coordinator::CoordinatorReadRequests;
-using memgraph::coordinator::CoordinatorReadResponses;
-using memgraph::coordinator::CoordinatorRsm;
-using memgraph::coordinator::CoordinatorWriteRequests;
-using memgraph::coordinator::CoordinatorWriteResponses;
-using memgraph::io::ConvertVariant;
-using memgraph::io::Duration;
-using memgraph::io::RequestId;
-using memgraph::io::Time;
-using memgraph::io::messages::CoordinatorMessages;
-using memgraph::io::messages::ShardManagerMessages;
-using memgraph::io::messages::ShardMessages;
-using memgraph::io::messages::StorageReadRequest;
-using memgraph::io::messages::StorageWriteRequest;
-using memgraph::io::rsm::AppendRequest;
-using memgraph::io::rsm::AppendResponse;
-using memgraph::io::rsm::ReadRequest;
-using memgraph::io::rsm::VoteRequest;
-using memgraph::io::rsm::VoteResponse;
-using memgraph::io::rsm::WriteRequest;
-using memgraph::io::rsm::WriteResponse;
-using memgraph::storage::v3::ShardManager;
+using coordinator::Coordinator;
+using coordinator::CoordinatorReadRequests;
+using coordinator::CoordinatorReadResponses;
+using coordinator::CoordinatorRsm;
+using coordinator::CoordinatorWriteRequests;
+using coordinator::CoordinatorWriteResponses;
+using coordinator::coordinator_worker::CoordinatorWorker;
+using CoordinatorRouteMessage = coordinator::coordinator_worker::RouteMessage;
+using CoordinatorQueue = coordinator::coordinator_worker::Queue;
+using io::ConvertVariant;
+using io::Duration;
+using io::RequestId;
+using io::Time;
+using io::messages::CoordinatorMessages;
+using io::messages::ShardManagerMessages;
+using io::messages::ShardMessages;
+using io::messages::StorageReadRequest;
+using io::messages::StorageWriteRequest;
+using io::rsm::AppendRequest;
+using io::rsm::AppendResponse;
+using io::rsm::ReadRequest;
+using io::rsm::VoteRequest;
+using io::rsm::VoteResponse;
+using io::rsm::WriteRequest;
+using io::rsm::WriteResponse;
+using storage::v3::ShardManager;
 
 /// The MachineManager is responsible for:
 /// * starting the entire system and ensuring that high-level
@@ -62,7 +66,9 @@ template <typename IoImpl>
 class MachineManager {
   io::Io<IoImpl> io_;
   MachineConfig config_;
-  CoordinatorRsm<IoImpl> coordinator_;
+  Address coordinator_address_;
+  CoordinatorQueue coordinator_queue_;
+  std::jthread coordinator_handle_;
   ShardManager<IoImpl> shard_manager_;
   Time next_cron_ = Time::min();
 
@@ -72,10 +78,27 @@ class MachineManager {
   MachineManager(io::Io<IoImpl> io, MachineConfig config, Coordinator coordinator)
       : io_(io),
         config_(config),
-        coordinator_{std::move(io.ForkLocal()), {}, std::move(coordinator)},
-        shard_manager_{io.ForkLocal(), coordinator_.GetAddress()} {}
+        coordinator_address_(io.GetAddress().ForkUniqueAddress()),
+        shard_manager_{io.ForkLocal(), config.shard_worker_threads, coordinator_address_} {
+    auto coordinator_io = io.ForkLocal();
+    coordinator_io.SetAddress(coordinator_address_);
+    CoordinatorWorker coordinator_worker{coordinator_io, coordinator_queue_, coordinator};
+    coordinator_handle_ = std::jthread([coordinator = std::move(coordinator_worker)]() mutable { coordinator.Run(); });
+  }
 
-  Address CoordinatorAddress() { return coordinator_.GetAddress(); }
+  MachineManager(MachineManager &&) noexcept = default;
+  MachineManager &operator=(MachineManager &&) noexcept = default;
+  MachineManager(const MachineManager &) = delete;
+  MachineManager &operator=(const MachineManager &) = delete;
+
+  ~MachineManager() {
+    if (coordinator_handle_.joinable()) {
+      coordinator_queue_.Push(coordinator::coordinator_worker::ShutDown{});
+      coordinator_handle_.join();
+    }
+  }
+
+  Address CoordinatorAddress() { return coordinator_address_; }
 
   void Run() {
     while (!io_.ShouldShutDown()) {
@@ -85,7 +108,7 @@ class MachineManager {
         next_cron_ = Cron();
       }
 
-      Duration receive_timeout = next_cron_ - now;
+      Duration receive_timeout = std::max(next_cron_, now) - now;
 
       // Note: this parameter pack must be kept in-sync with the ReceiveWithTimeout parameter pack below
       using AllMessages =
@@ -113,7 +136,7 @@ class MachineManager {
       spdlog::info("MM got message to {}", request_envelope.to_address.ToString());
 
       // If message is for the coordinator, cast it to subset and pass it to the coordinator
-      bool to_coordinator = coordinator_.GetAddress() == request_envelope.to_address;
+      bool to_coordinator = coordinator_address_ == request_envelope.to_address;
       if (to_coordinator) {
         std::optional<CoordinatorMessages> conversion_attempt =
             ConvertVariant<AllMessages, ReadRequest<CoordinatorReadRequests>, AppendRequest<CoordinatorWriteRequests>,
@@ -126,8 +149,13 @@ class MachineManager {
 
         CoordinatorMessages &&cm = std::move(conversion_attempt.value());
 
-        coordinator_.Handle(std::forward<CoordinatorMessages>(cm), request_envelope.request_id,
-                            request_envelope.from_address);
+        CoordinatorRouteMessage route_message{
+            .message = std::move(cm),
+            .request_id = request_envelope.request_id,
+            .to = request_envelope.to_address,
+            .from = request_envelope.from_address,
+        };
+        coordinator_queue_.Push(std::move(route_message));
         continue;
       }
 
@@ -168,6 +196,7 @@ class MachineManager {
  private:
   Time Cron() {
     spdlog::info("running MachineManager::Cron, address {}", io_.GetAddress().ToString());
+    coordinator_queue_.Push(coordinator::coordinator_worker::Cron{});
     return shard_manager_.Cron();
   }
 };
diff --git a/src/storage/v3/shard_manager.hpp b/src/storage/v3/shard_manager.hpp
index b379bf616..a3dc8b9b6 100644
--- a/src/storage/v3/shard_manager.hpp
+++ b/src/storage/v3/shard_manager.hpp
@@ -13,47 +13,50 @@
 
 #include <queue>
 #include <set>
+#include <unordered_map>
 
+#include <boost/functional/hash.hpp>
 #include <boost/uuid/uuid.hpp>
 
-#include <coordinator/coordinator.hpp>
-#include <io/address.hpp>
-#include <io/message_conversion.hpp>
-#include <io/messages.hpp>
-#include <io/rsm/raft.hpp>
-#include <io/time.hpp>
-#include <io/transport.hpp>
-#include <query/v2/requests.hpp>
-#include <storage/v3/shard.hpp>
-#include <storage/v3/shard_rsm.hpp>
+#include "coordinator/coordinator.hpp"
 #include "coordinator/shard_map.hpp"
+#include "io/address.hpp"
+#include "io/message_conversion.hpp"
+#include "io/messages.hpp"
+#include "io/rsm/raft.hpp"
+#include "io/time.hpp"
+#include "io/transport.hpp"
+#include "query/v2/requests.hpp"
 #include "storage/v3/config.hpp"
+#include "storage/v3/shard.hpp"
+#include "storage/v3/shard_rsm.hpp"
+#include "storage/v3/shard_worker.hpp"
 
 namespace memgraph::storage::v3 {
 
 using boost::uuids::uuid;
 
-using memgraph::coordinator::CoordinatorWriteRequests;
-using memgraph::coordinator::CoordinatorWriteResponses;
-using memgraph::coordinator::HeartbeatRequest;
-using memgraph::coordinator::HeartbeatResponse;
-using memgraph::io::Address;
-using memgraph::io::Duration;
-using memgraph::io::Message;
-using memgraph::io::RequestId;
-using memgraph::io::ResponseFuture;
-using memgraph::io::Time;
-using memgraph::io::messages::CoordinatorMessages;
-using memgraph::io::messages::ShardManagerMessages;
-using memgraph::io::messages::ShardMessages;
-using memgraph::io::rsm::Raft;
-using memgraph::io::rsm::WriteRequest;
-using memgraph::io::rsm::WriteResponse;
-using memgraph::msgs::ReadRequests;
-using memgraph::msgs::ReadResponses;
-using memgraph::msgs::WriteRequests;
-using memgraph::msgs::WriteResponses;
-using memgraph::storage::v3::ShardRsm;
+using coordinator::CoordinatorWriteRequests;
+using coordinator::CoordinatorWriteResponses;
+using coordinator::HeartbeatRequest;
+using coordinator::HeartbeatResponse;
+using io::Address;
+using io::Duration;
+using io::Message;
+using io::RequestId;
+using io::ResponseFuture;
+using io::Time;
+using io::messages::CoordinatorMessages;
+using io::messages::ShardManagerMessages;
+using io::messages::ShardMessages;
+using io::rsm::Raft;
+using io::rsm::WriteRequest;
+using io::rsm::WriteResponse;
+using msgs::ReadRequests;
+using msgs::ReadResponses;
+using msgs::WriteRequests;
+using msgs::WriteResponses;
+using storage::v3::ShardRsm;
 
 using ShardManagerOrRsmMessage = std::variant<ShardMessages, ShardManagerMessages>;
 using TimeUuidPair = std::pair<Time, uuid>;
@@ -77,7 +80,71 @@ static_assert(kMinimumCronInterval < kMaximumCronInterval,
 template <typename IoImpl>
 class ShardManager {
  public:
-  ShardManager(io::Io<IoImpl> io, Address coordinator_leader) : io_(io), coordinator_leader_(coordinator_leader) {}
+  ShardManager(io::Io<IoImpl> io, size_t shard_worker_threads, Address coordinator_leader)
+      : io_(io), coordinator_leader_(coordinator_leader) {
+    MG_ASSERT(shard_worker_threads >= 1);
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < shard_worker_threads; i++) {
+      shard_worker::Queue queue;
+      shard_worker::ShardWorker worker{io, queue};
+      auto worker_handle = std::jthread([worker = std::move(worker)]() mutable { worker.Run(); });
+
+      workers_.emplace_back(queue);
+      worker_handles_.emplace_back(std::move(worker_handle));
+      worker_rsm_counts_.emplace_back(0);
+    }
+  }
+
+  ShardManager(ShardManager &&) noexcept = default;
+  ShardManager &operator=(ShardManager &&) noexcept = default;
+  ShardManager(const ShardManager &) = delete;
+  ShardManager &operator=(const ShardManager &) = delete;
+
+  ~ShardManager() {
+    for (auto worker : workers_) {
+      worker.Push(shard_worker::ShutDown{});
+    }
+
+    workers_.clear();
+
+    // The jthread handes for our shard worker threads will be
+    // blocked on implicitly when worker_handles_ is destroyed.
+  }
+
+  size_t UuidToWorkerIndex(const uuid &to) {
+    if (rsm_worker_mapping_.contains(to)) {
+      return rsm_worker_mapping_.at(to);
+    }
+
+    // We will now create a mapping for this (probably new) shard
+    // by choosing the worker with the lowest number of existing
+    // mappings.
+
+    size_t min_index = 0;
+    size_t min_count = worker_rsm_counts_.at(min_index);
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < worker_rsm_counts_.size(); i++) {
+      size_t worker_count = worker_rsm_counts_.at(i);
+      if (worker_count <= min_count) {
+        min_count = worker_count;
+        min_index = i;
+      }
+    }
+
+    worker_rsm_counts_[min_index]++;
+    rsm_worker_mapping_.emplace(to, min_index);
+
+    return min_index;
+  }
+
+  void SendToWorkerByIndex(size_t worker_index, shard_worker::Message &&message) {
+    workers_[worker_index].Push(std::forward<shard_worker::Message>(message));
+  }
+
+  void SendToWorkerByUuid(const uuid &to, shard_worker::Message &&message) {
+    size_t worker_index = UuidToWorkerIndex(to);
+    SendToWorkerByIndex(worker_index, std::forward<shard_worker::Message>(message));
+  }
 
   /// Periodic protocol maintenance. Returns the time that Cron should be called again
   /// in the future.
@@ -85,33 +152,23 @@ class ShardManager {
     spdlog::info("running ShardManager::Cron, address {}", io_.GetAddress().ToString());
     Time now = io_.Now();
 
-    if (now >= next_cron_) {
+    if (now >= next_reconciliation_) {
       Reconciliation();
 
       std::uniform_int_distribution time_distrib(kMinimumCronInterval.count(), kMaximumCronInterval.count());
 
       const auto rand = io_.Rand(time_distrib);
 
-      next_cron_ = now + Duration{rand};
+      next_reconciliation_ = now + Duration{rand};
     }
 
-    if (!cron_schedule_.empty()) {
-      const auto &[time, uuid] = cron_schedule_.top();
-
-      if (time <= now) {
-        auto &rsm = rsm_map_.at(uuid);
-        Time next_for_uuid = rsm.Cron();
-
-        cron_schedule_.pop();
-        cron_schedule_.push(std::make_pair(next_for_uuid, uuid));
-
-        const auto &[next_time, _uuid] = cron_schedule_.top();
-
-        return std::min(next_cron_, next_time);
-      }
+    for (auto &worker : workers_) {
+      worker.Push(shard_worker::Cron{});
     }
 
-    return next_cron_;
+    Time next_worker_cron = now + std::chrono::milliseconds(500);
+
+    return std::min(next_worker_cron, next_reconciliation_);
   }
 
   /// Returns the Address for our underlying Io implementation
@@ -125,16 +182,21 @@ class ShardManager {
     MG_ASSERT(address.last_known_port == to.last_known_port);
     MG_ASSERT(address.last_known_ip == to.last_known_ip);
 
-    auto &rsm = rsm_map_.at(to.unique_id);
-
-    rsm.Handle(std::forward<ShardMessages>(sm), request_id, from);
+    SendToWorkerByUuid(to.unique_id, shard_worker::RouteMessage{
+                                         .message = std::move(sm),
+                                         .request_id = request_id,
+                                         .to = to,
+                                         .from = from,
+                                     });
   }
 
  private:
   io::Io<IoImpl> io_;
-  std::map<uuid, ShardRaft<IoImpl>> rsm_map_;
-  std::priority_queue<std::pair<Time, uuid>, std::vector<std::pair<Time, uuid>>, std::greater<>> cron_schedule_;
-  Time next_cron_ = Time::min();
+  std::vector<shard_worker::Queue> workers_;
+  std::vector<std::jthread> worker_handles_;
+  std::vector<size_t> worker_rsm_counts_;
+  std::unordered_map<uuid, size_t, boost::hash<boost::uuids::uuid>> rsm_worker_mapping_;
+  Time next_reconciliation_ = Time::min();
   Address coordinator_leader_;
   std::optional<ResponseFuture<WriteResponse<CoordinatorWriteResponses>>> heartbeat_res_;
 
@@ -188,40 +250,23 @@ class ShardManager {
   }
 
   void EnsureShardsInitialized(HeartbeatResponse hr) {
-    for (const auto &shard_to_initialize : hr.shards_to_initialize) {
-      InitializeRsm(shard_to_initialize);
-      initialized_but_not_confirmed_rsm_.emplace(shard_to_initialize.uuid);
+    for (const auto &to_init : hr.shards_to_initialize) {
+      initialized_but_not_confirmed_rsm_.emplace(to_init.uuid);
+
+      if (rsm_worker_mapping_.contains(to_init.uuid)) {
+        // it's not a bug for the coordinator to send us UUIDs that we have
+        // already created, because there may have been lag that caused
+        // the coordinator not to hear back from us.
+        return;
+      }
+
+      size_t worker_index = UuidToWorkerIndex(to_init.uuid);
+
+      SendToWorkerByIndex(worker_index, to_init);
+
+      rsm_worker_mapping_.emplace(to_init.uuid, worker_index);
     }
   }
-
-  /// Returns true if the RSM was able to be initialized, and false if it was already initialized
-  void InitializeRsm(coordinator::ShardToInitialize to_init) {
-    if (rsm_map_.contains(to_init.uuid)) {
-      // it's not a bug for the coordinator to send us UUIDs that we have
-      // already created, because there may have been lag that caused
-      // the coordinator not to hear back from us.
-      return;
-    }
-
-    auto rsm_io = io_.ForkLocal();
-    auto io_addr = rsm_io.GetAddress();
-    io_addr.unique_id = to_init.uuid;
-    rsm_io.SetAddress(io_addr);
-
-    // TODO(tyler) get peers from Coordinator in HeartbeatResponse
-    std::vector<Address> rsm_peers = {};
-
-    std::unique_ptr<Shard> shard = std::make_unique<Shard>(to_init.label_id, to_init.min_key, to_init.max_key,
-                                                           to_init.schema, to_init.config, to_init.id_to_names);
-
-    ShardRsm rsm_state{std::move(shard)};
-
-    ShardRaft<IoImpl> rsm{std::move(rsm_io), rsm_peers, std::move(rsm_state)};
-
-    spdlog::info("SM created a new shard with UUID {}", to_init.uuid);
-
-    rsm_map_.emplace(to_init.uuid, std::move(rsm));
-  }
 };
 
 }  // namespace memgraph::storage::v3
diff --git a/src/storage/v3/shard_worker.hpp b/src/storage/v3/shard_worker.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..46e02e6cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/storage/v3/shard_worker.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,224 @@
+// Copyright 2022 Memgraph Ltd.
+//
+// Use of this software is governed by the Business Source License
+// included in the file licenses/BSL.txt; by using this file, you agree to be bound by the terms of the Business Source
+// License, and you may not use this file except in compliance with the Business Source License.
+//
+// As of the Change Date specified in that file, in accordance with
+// the Business Source License, use of this software will be governed
+// by the Apache License, Version 2.0, included in the file
+// licenses/APL.txt.
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <chrono>
+#include <deque>
+#include <memory>
+#include <queue>
+#include <variant>
+
+#include <boost/uuid/uuid.hpp>
+
+#include "coordinator/coordinator.hpp"
+#include "coordinator/shard_map.hpp"
+#include "io/address.hpp"
+#include "io/future.hpp"
+#include "io/messages.hpp"
+#include "io/rsm/raft.hpp"
+#include "io/time.hpp"
+#include "io/transport.hpp"
+#include "query/v2/requests.hpp"
+#include "storage/v3/shard_rsm.hpp"
+
+namespace memgraph::storage::v3::shard_worker {
+
+/// Obligations:
+/// * ShutDown
+/// * Cron
+/// * RouteMessage
+/// * ShardToInitialize
+
+using boost::uuids::uuid;
+
+using coordinator::ShardToInitialize;
+using io::Address;
+using io::RequestId;
+using io::Time;
+using io::messages::ShardMessages;
+using io::rsm::Raft;
+using msgs::ReadRequests;
+using msgs::ReadResponses;
+using msgs::WriteRequests;
+using msgs::WriteResponses;
+using storage::v3::ShardRsm;
+
+template <typename IoImpl>
+using ShardRaft = Raft<IoImpl, ShardRsm, WriteRequests, WriteResponses, ReadRequests, ReadResponses>;
+
+struct ShutDown {};
+
+struct Cron {};
+
+struct RouteMessage {
+  ShardMessages message;
+  RequestId request_id;
+  Address to;
+  Address from;
+};
+
+using Message = std::variant<ShutDown, Cron, ShardToInitialize, RouteMessage>;
+
+struct QueueInner {
+  std::mutex mu{};
+  std::condition_variable cv;
+  // TODO(tyler) handle simulator communication std::shared_ptr<std::atomic<int>> blocked;
+
+  // TODO(tyler) investigate using a priority queue that prioritizes messages in a way that
+  // improves overall QoS. For example, maybe we want to schedule raft Append messages
+  // ahead of Read messages or generally writes before reads for lowering the load on the
+  // overall system faster etc... When we do this, we need to make sure to avoid
+  // starvation by sometimes randomizing priorities, rather than following a strict
+  // prioritization.
+  std::deque<Message> queue;
+};
+
+/// There are two reasons to implement our own Queue instead of using
+/// one off-the-shelf:
+/// 1. we will need to know in the simulator when all threads are waiting
+/// 2. we will want to implement our own priority queue within this for QoS
+class Queue {
+  std::shared_ptr<QueueInner> inner_ = std::make_shared<QueueInner>();
+
+ public:
+  void Push(Message &&message) {
+    {
+      MG_ASSERT(inner_.use_count() > 0);
+      std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(inner_->mu);
+
+      inner_->queue.emplace_back(std::forward<Message>(message));
+    }  // lock dropped before notifying condition variable
+
+    inner_->cv.notify_all();
+  }
+
+  Message Pop() {
+    MG_ASSERT(inner_.use_count() > 0);
+    std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(inner_->mu);
+
+    while (inner_->queue.empty()) {
+      inner_->cv.wait(lock);
+    }
+
+    Message message = std::move(inner_->queue.front());
+    inner_->queue.pop_front();
+
+    return message;
+  }
+};
+
+/// A ShardWorker owns Raft<ShardRsm> instances. receives messages from the ShardManager.
+template <class IoImpl>
+class ShardWorker {
+  io::Io<IoImpl> io_;
+  Queue queue_;
+  std::priority_queue<std::pair<Time, uuid>, std::vector<std::pair<Time, uuid>>, std::greater<>> cron_schedule_;
+  Time next_cron_ = Time::min();
+  std::map<uuid, ShardRaft<IoImpl>> rsm_map_;
+
+  bool Process(ShutDown && /* shut_down */) { return false; }
+
+  bool Process(Cron && /* cron */) {
+    Cron();
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  bool Process(ShardToInitialize &&shard_to_initialize) {
+    InitializeRsm(std::forward<ShardToInitialize>(shard_to_initialize));
+
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  bool Process(RouteMessage &&route_message) {
+    auto &rsm = rsm_map_.at(route_message.to.unique_id);
+
+    rsm.Handle(std::move(route_message.message), route_message.request_id, route_message.from);
+
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  Time Cron() {
+    spdlog::info("running ShardWorker::Cron, address {}", io_.GetAddress().ToString());
+    Time now = io_.Now();
+
+    while (!cron_schedule_.empty()) {
+      const auto &[time, uuid] = cron_schedule_.top();
+
+      if (time <= now) {
+        auto &rsm = rsm_map_.at(uuid);
+        Time next_for_uuid = rsm.Cron();
+
+        cron_schedule_.pop();
+        cron_schedule_.push(std::make_pair(next_for_uuid, uuid));
+      } else {
+        return time;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return now + std::chrono::microseconds(1000);
+  }
+
+  void InitializeRsm(ShardToInitialize to_init) {
+    if (rsm_map_.contains(to_init.uuid)) {
+      // it's not a bug for the coordinator to send us UUIDs that we have
+      // already created, because there may have been lag that caused
+      // the coordinator not to hear back from us.
+      return;
+    }
+
+    auto rsm_io = io_.ForkLocal();
+    auto io_addr = rsm_io.GetAddress();
+    io_addr.unique_id = to_init.uuid;
+    rsm_io.SetAddress(io_addr);
+
+    // TODO(tyler) get peers from Coordinator in HeartbeatResponse
+    std::vector<Address> rsm_peers = {};
+
+    std::unique_ptr<Shard> shard = std::make_unique<Shard>(to_init.label_id, to_init.min_key, to_init.max_key,
+                                                           to_init.schema, to_init.config, to_init.id_to_names);
+
+    ShardRsm rsm_state{std::move(shard)};
+
+    ShardRaft<IoImpl> rsm{std::move(rsm_io), rsm_peers, std::move(rsm_state)};
+
+    spdlog::info("SM created a new shard with UUID {}", to_init.uuid);
+
+    // perform an initial Cron call for the new RSM
+    Time next_cron = rsm.Cron();
+    cron_schedule_.push(std::make_pair(next_cron, to_init.uuid));
+
+    rsm_map_.emplace(to_init.uuid, std::move(rsm));
+  }
+
+ public:
+  ShardWorker(io::Io<IoImpl> io, Queue queue) : io_(io), queue_(queue) {}
+  ShardWorker(ShardWorker &&) noexcept = default;
+  ShardWorker &operator=(ShardWorker &&) noexcept = default;
+  ShardWorker(const ShardWorker &) = delete;
+  ShardWorker &operator=(const ShardWorker &) = delete;
+  ~ShardWorker() = default;
+
+  void Run() {
+    while (true) {
+      Message message = queue_.Pop();
+
+      const bool should_continue =
+          std::visit([&](auto &&msg) { return Process(std::forward<decltype(msg)>(msg)); }, std::move(message));
+
+      if (!should_continue) {
+        return;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+};
+
+}  // namespace memgraph::storage::v3::shard_worker
diff --git a/tests/simulation/cluster_property_test.cpp b/tests/simulation/cluster_property_test.cpp
index 0de5c21fc..48327be5b 100644
--- a/tests/simulation/cluster_property_test.cpp
+++ b/tests/simulation/cluster_property_test.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
 #include <rapidcheck.h>
 #include <rapidcheck/gtest.h>
+#include <spdlog/cfg/env.h>
 
 #include "generated_operations.hpp"
 #include "io/simulator/simulator_config.hpp"
@@ -35,6 +36,8 @@ using storage::v3::kMaximumCronInterval;
 RC_GTEST_PROP(RandomClusterConfig, HappyPath, (ClusterConfig cluster_config, NonEmptyOpVec ops)) {
   // TODO(tyler) set abort_time to something more restrictive than Time::max()
 
+  spdlog::cfg::load_env_levels();
+
   SimulatorConfig sim_config{
       .drop_percent = 0,
       .perform_timeouts = false,
diff --git a/tests/simulation/test_cluster.hpp b/tests/simulation/test_cluster.hpp
index b87bda998..6a32a391d 100644
--- a/tests/simulation/test_cluster.hpp
+++ b/tests/simulation/test_cluster.hpp
@@ -194,6 +194,22 @@ void ExecuteOp(msgs::ShardRequestManager<SimulatorTransport> &shard_request_mana
   }
 }
 
+/// This struct exists as a way of detaching
+/// a thread if something causes an uncaught
+/// exception - because that thread would not
+/// receive a ShutDown message otherwise, and
+/// would cause the test to hang forever.
+struct DetachIfDropped {
+  std::jthread &handle;
+  bool detach = true;
+
+  ~DetachIfDropped() {
+    if (detach && handle.joinable()) {
+      handle.detach();
+    }
+  }
+};
+
 void RunClusterSimulation(const SimulatorConfig &sim_config, const ClusterConfig &cluster_config,
                           const std::vector<Op> &ops) {
   spdlog::info("========================== NEW SIMULATION ==========================");
@@ -217,9 +233,7 @@ void RunClusterSimulation(const SimulatorConfig &sim_config, const ClusterConfig
 
   auto mm_thread_1 = std::jthread(RunMachine, std::move(mm_1));
 
-  // Need to detach this thread so that the destructor does not
-  // block before we can propagate assertion failures.
-  mm_thread_1.detach();
+  auto detach_on_error = DetachIfDropped{.handle = mm_thread_1};
 
   // TODO(tyler) clarify addresses of coordinator etc... as it's a mess
 
@@ -236,6 +250,11 @@ void RunClusterSimulation(const SimulatorConfig &sim_config, const ClusterConfig
     std::visit([&](auto &o) { ExecuteOp(shard_request_manager, correctness_model, o); }, op.inner);
   }
 
+  // We have now completed our workload without failing any assertions, so we can
+  // disable detaching the worker thread, which will cause the mm_thread_1 jthread
+  // to be joined when this function returns.
+  detach_on_error.detach = false;
+
   simulator.ShutDown();
 
   SimulatorStats stats = simulator.Stats();
diff --git a/tests/unit/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/unit/CMakeLists.txt
index 4a0ee2460..0e5824318 100644
--- a/tests/unit/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/unit/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -400,6 +400,6 @@ target_link_libraries(${test_prefix}pretty_print_ast_to_original_expression_test
 add_unit_test(coordinator_shard_map.cpp)
 target_link_libraries(${test_prefix}coordinator_shard_map mg-coordinator)
 
-# Tests for 1000 shards, 1000 creates, scan
-add_unit_test(1k_shards_1k_create_scanall.cpp)
-target_link_libraries(${test_prefix}1k_shards_1k_create_scanall mg-io mg-coordinator mg-storage-v3 mg-query-v2)
+# Tests for many shards, many creates, scan
+add_unit_test(high_density_shard_create_scan.cpp)
+target_link_libraries(${test_prefix}high_density_shard_create_scan mg-io mg-coordinator mg-storage-v3 mg-query-v2)
diff --git a/tests/unit/1k_shards_1k_create_scanall.cpp b/tests/unit/high_density_shard_create_scan.cpp
similarity index 74%
rename from tests/unit/1k_shards_1k_create_scanall.cpp
rename to tests/unit/high_density_shard_create_scan.cpp
index eb1f8a5d5..9c2d1cfd7 100644
--- a/tests/unit/1k_shards_1k_create_scanall.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit/high_density_shard_create_scan.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 #include "machine_manager/machine_manager.hpp"
 #include "query/v2/requests.hpp"
 #include "query/v2/shard_request_manager.hpp"
-#include "utils/print_helpers.hpp"
 #include "utils/variant_helpers.hpp"
 
 namespace memgraph::tests::simulation {
@@ -82,13 +81,14 @@ struct ScanAll {
 };
 
 MachineManager<LocalTransport> MkMm(LocalSystem &local_system, std::vector<Address> coordinator_addresses, Address addr,
-                                    ShardMap shard_map) {
+                                    ShardMap shard_map, size_t shard_worker_threads) {
   MachineConfig config{
       .coordinator_addresses = std::move(coordinator_addresses),
       .is_storage = true,
       .is_coordinator = true,
       .listen_ip = addr.last_known_ip,
       .listen_port = addr.last_known_port,
+      .shard_worker_threads = shard_worker_threads,
   };
 
   Io<LocalTransport> io = local_system.Register(addr);
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ void WaitForShardsToInitialize(CoordinatorClient<LocalTransport> &coordinator_cl
   }
 }
 
-ShardMap TestShardMap(int n_splits, int replication_factor) {
+ShardMap TestShardMap(int shards, int replication_factor, int gap_between_shards) {
   ShardMap sm{};
 
   const auto label_name = std::string("test_label");
@@ -147,8 +147,8 @@ ShardMap TestShardMap(int n_splits, int replication_factor) {
   MG_ASSERT(label_id.has_value());
 
   // split the shard at N split points
-  for (int64_t i = 1; i < n_splits; ++i) {
-    const auto key1 = memgraph::storage::v3::PropertyValue(i);
+  for (int64_t i = 1; i < shards; ++i) {
+    const auto key1 = memgraph::storage::v3::PropertyValue(i * gap_between_shards);
     const auto key2 = memgraph::storage::v3::PropertyValue(0);
 
     const auto split_point = {key1, key2};
@@ -208,7 +208,16 @@ void ExecuteOp(msgs::ShardRequestManager<LocalTransport> &shard_request_manager,
   }
 }
 
-TEST(MachineManager, ManyShards) {
+void RunWorkload(int shards, int replication_factor, int create_ops, int scan_ops, int shard_worker_threads,
+                 int gap_between_shards) {
+  spdlog::info("======================== NEW TEST ========================");
+  spdlog::info("shards:               ", shards);
+  spdlog::info("replication factor:   ", replication_factor);
+  spdlog::info("create ops:           ", create_ops);
+  spdlog::info("scan all ops:         ", scan_ops);
+  spdlog::info("shard worker threads: ", shard_worker_threads);
+  spdlog::info("gap between shards:   ", gap_between_shards);
+
   LocalSystem local_system;
 
   auto cli_addr = Address::TestAddress(1);
@@ -221,19 +230,20 @@ TEST(MachineManager, ManyShards) {
       machine_1_addr,
   };
 
-  auto shard_splits = 1024;
-  auto replication_factor = 1;
-  auto create_ops = 1000;
+  auto time_before_shard_map_creation = cli_io_2.Now();
+  ShardMap initialization_sm = TestShardMap(shards, replication_factor, gap_between_shards);
+  auto time_after_shard_map_creation = cli_io_2.Now();
 
-  ShardMap initialization_sm = TestShardMap(shard_splits, replication_factor);
-
-  auto mm_1 = MkMm(local_system, coordinator_addresses, machine_1_addr, initialization_sm);
+  auto mm_1 = MkMm(local_system, coordinator_addresses, machine_1_addr, initialization_sm, shard_worker_threads);
   Address coordinator_address = mm_1.CoordinatorAddress();
 
   auto mm_thread_1 = std::jthread(RunMachine, std::move(mm_1));
 
   CoordinatorClient<LocalTransport> coordinator_client(cli_io, coordinator_address, {coordinator_address});
+
+  auto time_before_shard_stabilization = cli_io_2.Now();
   WaitForShardsToInitialize(coordinator_client);
+  auto time_after_shard_stabilization = cli_io_2.Now();
 
   msgs::ShardRequestManager<LocalTransport> shard_request_manager(std::move(coordinator_client), std::move(cli_io));
 
@@ -241,18 +251,54 @@ TEST(MachineManager, ManyShards) {
 
   auto correctness_model = std::set<CompoundKey>{};
 
+  auto time_before_creates = cli_io_2.Now();
+
   for (int i = 0; i < create_ops; i++) {
     ExecuteOp(shard_request_manager, correctness_model, CreateVertex{.first = i, .second = i});
   }
 
-  ExecuteOp(shard_request_manager, correctness_model, ScanAll{});
+  auto time_after_creates = cli_io_2.Now();
+
+  for (int i = 0; i < scan_ops; i++) {
+    ExecuteOp(shard_request_manager, correctness_model, ScanAll{});
+  }
+
+  auto time_after_scan = cli_io_2.Now();
 
   local_system.ShutDown();
 
-  auto histo = cli_io_2.ResponseLatencies();
+  auto latencies = cli_io_2.ResponseLatencies();
 
-  using memgraph::utils::print_helpers::operator<<;
-  std::cout << "response latencies: " << histo << std::endl;
+  spdlog::info("response latencies: \n{}", latencies.SummaryTable());
+
+  spdlog::info("serial time break-down: (μs)");
+
+  spdlog::info("{: >20}: {: >10}", "split shard map",
+               (time_after_shard_map_creation - time_before_shard_map_creation).count());
+  spdlog::info("{: >20}: {: >10}", "shard stabilization",
+               (time_after_shard_stabilization - time_before_shard_stabilization).count());
+  spdlog::info("{: >20}: {: >10}", "create nodes", (time_after_creates - time_before_creates).count());
+  spdlog::info("{: >20}: {: >10}", "scan nodes", (time_after_scan - time_after_creates).count());
+
+  std::cout << fmt::format("{} {} {}\n", shards, shard_worker_threads, (time_after_scan - time_after_creates).count());
+}
+
+TEST(MachineManager, ManyShards) {
+  auto shards_attempts = {1, 64};
+  auto shard_worker_thread_attempts = {1, 32};
+  auto replication_factor = 1;
+  auto create_ops = 128;
+  auto scan_ops = 1;
+
+  std::cout << "splits threads scan_all_microseconds\n";
+
+  for (const auto shards : shards_attempts) {
+    auto gap_between_shards = create_ops / shards;
+
+    for (const auto shard_worker_threads : shard_worker_thread_attempts) {
+      RunWorkload(shards, replication_factor, create_ops, scan_ops, shard_worker_threads, gap_between_shards);
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 }  // namespace memgraph::tests::simulation