A respective node in a linear communication orbit receives an instruction packet through the linear communication orbit, where the instruction packet has been propagated from a starting node to the respective node through one or more upstream nodes along the linear communication orbit, and the instruction packet includes an instruction for establishing a direct duplex connection between the respective node and a respective server. In response to receiving the instruction packet, the respective node sends an outbound connection request to the respective server to establish the direct duplex connection. The respective node then uploads local data to the respective server through the direct duplex connection (e.g., in response to one or more queries, instructions, and requests received from the respective server through the direct duplex connection), where the respective server performs analysis on the local data received from the respective node through the direct duplex connection.