diff --git a/apps/loadgen/go.mod b/apps/loadgen/go.mod
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..079758d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/loadgen/go.mod
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+module git.fiwlabs.dev/fiwdev/nereus/apps/loadgen
+
+go 1.26
diff --git a/apps/loadgen/main.go b/apps/loadgen/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c2958b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/loadgen/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,199 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"math"
+	"math/rand/v2"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"os/signal"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"syscall"
+	"time"
+)
+
+type generator struct {
+	client *http.Client
+	target string
+	buoys  []string
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	counts map[string]int
+}
+
+type buoy struct {
+	ID        string  `json:"id"`
+	Name      string  `json:"name,omitempty"`
+	Latitude  float64 `json:"latitude,omitempty"`
+	Longitude float64 `json:"longitude,omitempty"`
+}
+
+func main() {
+	if err := run(); err != nil {
+		slog.Error("load generator stopped", "error", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+}
+
+func run() error {
+	target := strings.TrimRight(os.Getenv("TARGET_URL"), "/")
+	if target == "" {
+		return errors.New("TARGET_URL is required")
+	}
+	rps, err := strconv.Atoi(envOr("RPS", "5"))
+	if err != nil || rps < 1 || rps > 100 {
+		return errors.New("RPS must be between 1 and 100")
+	}
+	logger := slog.New(slog.NewJSONHandler(os.Stdout, nil))
+	slog.SetDefault(logger)
+	ctx, stop := signal.NotifyContext(context.Background(), syscall.SIGTERM, syscall.SIGINT)
+	defer stop()
+	g := &generator{client: &http.Client{Timeout: 5 * time.Second}, target: target, counts: make(map[string]int)}
+	if err := g.seed(ctx); err != nil {
+		logger.Warn("initial buoy seed failed; traffic will continue", "error", err)
+	}
+	go g.seedUntilReady(ctx, logger)
+	go g.summarize(ctx, logger)
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(time.Second / time.Duration(rps))
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return nil
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			go g.send(ctx)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (g *generator) seed(ctx context.Context) error {
+	var existing []buoy
+	if err := g.request(ctx, http.MethodGet, "/api/v1/buoys", nil, &existing); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	g.mu.Lock()
+	for _, item := range existing {
+		g.buoys = append(g.buoys, item.ID)
+	}
+	ready := len(g.buoys) > 0
+	g.mu.Unlock()
+	if ready {
+		return nil
+	}
+	positions := [][2]float64{{44.5, -9}, {44.2, -8}, {44.3, -7}, {44.4, -6}, {44.5, -5}, {44.6, -4}, {44.7, -3}, {44.5, -2}, {43.8, -2}, {43.5, -9.8}, {42.5, -10.2}, {41.5, -10.5}, {40.5, -10.8}, {39.5, -11}, {38.5, -11}, {37.5, -10.8}, {36.5, -10}, {35.9, -9}, {35.8, -8}, {35.7, -7}, {35.2, -7.5}, {35, -8.5}, {35.8, -4.5}, {36, -3.5}, {36.2, -2.5}, {36.5, -1.5}, {36.8, -.5}, {37.2, .5}, {37.7, 1.2}, {38.1, 2}, {38, 3}, {38.5, 4}, {39.5, 1}, {40, 1.5}, {40.5, 2}, {41, 2.7}, {41.5, 3.3}, {42, 3.8}, {42.5, 4.5}, {43, -9.8}, {41, -10.5}, {39, -10.8}}
+	for i, position := range positions {
+		input := buoy{Name: fmt.Sprintf("Synthetic %d", i+1), Latitude: position[0], Longitude: position[1]}
+		var created buoy
+		if err := g.request(ctx, http.MethodPost, "/api/v1/buoys", input, &created); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		g.mu.Lock()
+		g.buoys = append(g.buoys, created.ID)
+		g.mu.Unlock()
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (g *generator) send(ctx context.Context) { g.sendRoll(ctx, rand.IntN(100)) }
+func (g *generator) sendRoll(ctx context.Context, roll int) {
+	path, method, body := "/api/v1/readings", http.MethodGet, any(nil)
+	if roll >= 60 && roll < 85 {
+		g.mu.Lock()
+		ids := append([]string(nil), g.buoys...)
+		g.mu.Unlock()
+		if len(ids) == 0 {
+			_ = g.request(ctx, method, path, nil, nil)
+			return
+		}
+		method = http.MethodPost
+		phase := float64(time.Now().UnixMilli()) / 60000
+		body = map[string]any{"buoy_id": ids[rand.IntN(len(ids))], "water_temp": 19 + 2*math.Sin(phase) + rand.Float64()*.4, "wave_height": 1.8 + .8*math.Sin(phase*.7+1) + rand.Float64()*.25, "salinity": 35.5 + .5*math.Sin(phase*.3) + rand.Float64()*.15}
+	} else if roll >= 85 {
+		path = "/api/v1/readings/aggregate?window=1h"
+	}
+	_ = g.request(ctx, method, path, body, nil)
+}
+
+func (g *generator) seedUntilReady(ctx context.Context, logger *slog.Logger) {
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(10 * time.Second)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			g.mu.Lock()
+			ready := len(g.buoys) > 0
+			g.mu.Unlock()
+			if ready {
+				return
+			}
+			if err := g.seed(ctx); err != nil {
+				logger.Warn("buoy seed failed; traffic continues", "error", err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (g *generator) request(ctx context.Context, method, path string, body, output any) error {
+	var payload *bytes.Reader
+	if body == nil {
+		payload = bytes.NewReader(nil)
+	} else {
+		encoded, err := json.Marshal(body)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("encode request: %w", err)
+		}
+		payload = bytes.NewReader(encoded)
+	}
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, method, g.target+path, payload)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create request: %w", err)
+	}
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	resp, err := g.client.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		g.record("network_error")
+		return fmt.Errorf("send request: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = resp.Body.Close() }()
+	g.record(strconv.Itoa(resp.StatusCode))
+	if resp.StatusCode < 200 || resp.StatusCode >= 300 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("API returned %s", resp.Status)
+	}
+	if output != nil && json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(output) != nil {
+		return errors.New("decode response")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (g *generator) record(status string) { g.mu.Lock(); defer g.mu.Unlock(); g.counts[status]++ }
+func (g *generator) summarize(ctx context.Context, logger *slog.Logger) {
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(10 * time.Second)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			g.mu.Lock()
+			counts := g.counts
+			g.counts = make(map[string]int)
+			g.mu.Unlock()
+			logger.Info("traffic summary", "status_counts", counts)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func envOr(name, fallback string) string {
+	if value := os.Getenv(name); value != "" {
+		return value
+	}
+	return fallback
+}
diff --git a/apps/loadgen/main_test.go b/apps/loadgen/main_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6978b21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/loadgen/main_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestRequestWeighting(t *testing.T) {
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+	counts := make(map[string]int)
+	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		mu.Lock()
+		counts[r.Method+" "+r.URL.RequestURI()]++
+		mu.Unlock()
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+	}))
+	defer server.Close()
+
+	g := &generator{client: server.Client(), target: server.URL, buoys: []string{"buoy-1"}, counts: make(map[string]int)}
+	for roll := range 100 {
+		g.sendRoll(context.Background(), roll)
+	}
+
+	want := map[string]int{
+		"GET /api/v1/readings":                     60,
+		"POST /api/v1/readings":                    25,
+		"GET /api/v1/readings/aggregate?window=1h": 15,
+	}
+	if fmt.Sprint(counts) != fmt.Sprint(want) {
+		t.Fatalf("request weighting = %v, want %v", counts, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSeedEmptyAPI(t *testing.T) {
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+	created := 0
+	var posted []buoy
+	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		switch {
+		case r.Method == http.MethodGet && r.URL.Path == "/api/v1/buoys":
+			_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode([]buoy{})
+		case r.Method == http.MethodPost && r.URL.Path == "/api/v1/buoys":
+			var input buoy
+			if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&input); err != nil {
+				http.Error(w, "invalid buoy", http.StatusBadRequest)
+				return
+			}
+			mu.Lock()
+			created++
+			posted = append(posted, input)
+			id := fmt.Sprintf("buoy-%d", created)
+			mu.Unlock()
+			_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(buoy{ID: id})
+		default:
+			http.NotFound(w, r)
+		}
+	}))
+	defer server.Close()
+
+	g := &generator{client: server.Client(), target: server.URL, counts: make(map[string]int)}
+	if err := g.seed(context.Background()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("seed: %v", err)
+	}
+	if created != 42 || len(g.buoys) != 42 {
+		t.Fatalf("created %d buoys and retained %d IDs, want 42 and 42", created, len(g.buoys))
+	}
+	want := [][2]float64{{44.5, -9}, {44.2, -8}, {44.3, -7}, {44.4, -6}, {44.5, -5}, {44.6, -4}, {44.7, -3}, {44.5, -2}, {43.8, -2}, {43.5, -9.8}, {42.5, -10.2}, {41.5, -10.5}, {40.5, -10.8}, {39.5, -11}, {38.5, -11}, {37.5, -10.8}, {36.5, -10}, {35.9, -9}, {35.8, -8}, {35.7, -7}, {35.2, -7.5}, {35, -8.5}, {35.8, -4.5}, {36, -3.5}, {36.2, -2.5}, {36.5, -1.5}, {36.8, -.5}, {37.2, .5}, {37.7, 1.2}, {38.1, 2}, {38, 3}, {38.5, 4}, {39.5, 1}, {40, 1.5}, {40.5, 2}, {41, 2.7}, {41.5, 3.3}, {42, 3.8}, {42.5, 4.5}, {43, -9.8}, {41, -10.5}, {39, -10.8}}
+	for i, position := range want {
+		if posted[i].Latitude != position[0] || posted[i].Longitude != position[1] {
+			t.Errorf("buoy %d position = (%v, %v), want (%v, %v)", i, posted[i].Latitude, posted[i].Longitude, position[0], position[1])
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTrafficContinuesThroughHTTP500(t *testing.T) {
+	const requests = 30
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+	received := 0
+	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		mu.Lock()
+		received++
+		mu.Unlock()
+		http.Error(w, "unavailable", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+	}))
+	defer server.Close()
+
+	g := &generator{client: server.Client(), target: server.URL, buoys: []string{"buoy-1"}, counts: make(map[string]int)}
+	for roll := range requests {
+		g.sendRoll(context.Background(), roll)
+	}
+
+	mu.Lock()
+	got := received
+	mu.Unlock()
+	if got != requests {
+		t.Fatalf("received %d requests, want %d", got, requests)
+	}
+	if g.counts["500"] != requests {
+		t.Fatalf("recorded %d HTTP 500 responses, want %d", g.counts["500"], requests)
+	}
+}